Association of Patient Gender and Gastroenterologists' Diagnosis and Management Choices in Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease

Symptom severity and prevalence of erosive disease in gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) differ between genders. It is not known how gastroenterologists incorporate patient gender in their decision-making process. We aimed to evaluate how gender influences the diagnosis and management recommendations for patients with GERD. We invited a nationwide sample of gastroenterologists via voluntary listservs to complete an online survey of fictional patient scenarios presenting with different GERD symptoms and endoscopic findings. Patient gender for each case was randomly generated. Study participants were asked for their likelihood of a diagnosis of GERD and subsequent management recommendations. Results were analyzed using chi-square tests, Fisher Exact tests, and multivariable logistic regression. Of 819 survey invitations sent, 135 gastroenterologists responded with 95.6% completion rate. There was no significant association between patient gender and prediction for the likelihood of GERD for any of the five clinical scenarios when analyzed separately or when all survey responses were pooled. There was also no significant association between gender and decision to refer for fundoplication, escalate PPI therapy, or start of neuromodulation/behavioral therapy. Despite documented symptomatic and physiologic differences of GERD between the genders, patient gender did not affect respondents' estimates of GERD diagnosis or subsequent management. Further outcomes studies should validate whether response to GERD treatment strategies differ between women and men.