ABSTRACT
Background:
Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD) is a prevalent condition in Brazil, affecting 12% to 20% of the urban population, with significant implications for patient quality of life and potential for complications.
Objective:
This paper focuses on the recent update of the Brazilian guidelines for GERD, a necessary revision due to advancements in knowledge and practice since the last publication over a decade ago. The update pays particular attention to the role and safety of proton pump inhibitors (PPIs), acknowledging the growing concerns about their long-term use, adverse events, and overprescription.
Methods:
The methodology of the guideline update involved an extensive literature review in multiple languages (English, French, Italian, Spanish, and Portuguese), drawing from major databases such as Medline, Embase, and SciELO-Lilacs.
Results:
This comprehensive approach resulted in a carefully curated selection of studies, systematic reviews, and meta-analyses, specifically focusing on PPIs and other therapeutic strategies for GERD. The updated guidelines are presented in a user-friendly question-and-answer format, adhering to the PICO system (Population, Intervention, Comparison, Outcomes) for clarity and ease of interpretation. The recommendations are supported by robust scientific evidence and expert opinions, enhancing their practical applicability in clinical settings. To ensure the reliability and clarity of the recommendations, the GRADE system (Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development, and Evaluation) was employed. This system categorizes the strength of recommendations as strong, weak, or conditional and classifies evidence quality as high, moderate, low, or very low. These classifications provide insight into the confidence level of each recommendation and the likelihood of future research impacting these guidelines.
Conclusion:
The primary aim of these updated guidelines is to offer practical, evidence-based advice for the management of GERD in Brazil, ensuring that healthcare professionals are equipped with the latest knowledge and tools to deliver optimal patient care.
Keywords:
Reflux disease; consensus; guidelines
HIGHLIGHTS
•Gastrointestinal specialists rely heavily on guidelines to manage digestive pathologies effectively. The Brazilian clinical guideline for therapeutic management of gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) is an invaluable tool for these specialists.
•It critically analyzes practical aspects of therapy through 12 questions covering a wide range of topics, from behavioral measures to surgical and endoscopic indications.
•The recommendations in this guideline are justified using the GRADE system (Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development, and Evaluation), and experienced experts provide comments and suggestions at the end of each question.