Gastro-oesophageal reflux disease (GORD) impairs sleep quality, a new US study of 48,536 women aged 48 to 69 years shows. 

At baseline, 15.9 per cent of the women experienced GORD at least twice a week. During the four-year follow-up, 16.3 per cent reported poor sleep quality.

Compared with women with GORD less than once a month and adjusting for confounders, women who experienced GORD one to three times per month were 15 per cent more likely to report poor sleep quality. 

This proportion rose to 31 and 53 per cent among those who experienced GORD once weekly and at least twice a week respectively.

Women who had GORD once or more a week for eight or more years were 36 per cent more likely to report poor sleep quality than controls. This compares with 22 per cent for those with GORD at least once a week for less than four years and 38 per cent after four to seven years.

GORD increased the likelihood of experiencing particular aspects of poor sleep quality. For example, compared with controls, those who experienced symptoms at least twice a week were: 49 per cent more likely to have difficulty in falling asleep; 47 per cent more likely to report excessive daytime sleepiness; 44 per cent more likely to be restless at night; 33 per cent more likely to have sleep disturbances; and 17 per cent more likely to report short sleep duration.

Poor sleep quality overall was more common among women who were not using regular proton pump inhibitors, H2 receptor antagonists or both. For example, compared with controls, women who experienced symptoms at least twice a week were 61 per cent more likely to report poor sleep quality if they did not regularly use PPIs, H2RAs or both. 

Regular users of PPIs, H2RAs or both were 31 per cent more likely to report poor sleep quality.