Concurrence of Vesicoureteral Reflux and Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease in Children

 There is anecdotal evidence regarding the simultaneous occurrence of vesicoureteral reflux (VUR) and gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), which indicates the probability of pathophysiological commonality.

 In the present study, we evaluated the concurrence of VUR and GERD in children candidates for the voiding cystourethrogram (VCUG) study.

 This cross-sectional study was conducted on 62 children between 1 and 14 years old referred to a tertiary referral teaching hospital for VCUG in 2019 - 2020. All subjects underwent ultrasound to assess GERD and VCUG to rule out VUR.

 According to the ultrasound assessment, 14.5% of subjects were diagnosed with GERD: 8.3% in males and 18.4% in females. VUR was detected in 48.4% of children (50.0% in males and 47.4% in females) using VCUG. Overall, seven (23.3%) had concomitant VUR and GERD: 4.2% in boys and 15.8% in girls, indicating no difference between the two genders (P = 0.125). The prevalence of concurrent GERD and VUR was also independent of age. In the two groups with and without VUR, the prevalence of GERD was 23.3% and 6.2%, respectively, indicating a relative risk of 2 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.32 - 3.02, P = 0.001).

 Regarding the relationship between GERD and VUR, despite the deletion of physiologic GER cases, the pathophysiological overlap between the two phenomena could be considered.