Abstract
BACKGROUND: Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) and dyspepsia are typical gastrointestinal disorders that may overlap, making it difficult to diagnose and treat them. There is little local information on their connection in Pakistan. This study aimed to determine the connection between GERD symptoms and the severity of dyspepsia in adults. METHODS: The study was a cross-sectional study in the outpatient clinics of hospitals in Karachi and Lahore. Convenience sampling was used to recruit 310 adults with dyspeptic symptoms. The data were collected using the Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease Questionnaire (GERD-Q) and the Short-Form Leeds Dyspepsia Questionnaire (SF-LDQ), along with demographic and clinical variables. The study was conducted between August and September 2025 at the outpatient clinics of hospitals in Karachi and Lahore. Data were analyzed statistically using SPSS v.26, and descriptive statistics, Spearman correlation, Mann-Whitney U tests, Kruskal-Wallis tests, chi-square tests, and multiple linear regression models were employed. RESULTS: The average GERD-Q score was 15.69 ± 2.28, and the average SF-LDQ score was 14.60 ± 1.67. The GERD-Q and SF-LDQ scores were positively correlated (p = 0.001). Females scored significantly higher than males on both the GERD-Q and SF-LDQ (p< 0.05). Higher scores on the GERD-Q were found in older individuals, while the severity of dyspepsia was more pronounced among younger subjects (p< 0.05). Regression analysis revealed that GERD symptoms, female gender, a family history of gastrointestinal disorders, and a chronic illness are significant predictors of dyspepsia severity (p < 0.01). CONCLUSION: More severe dyspepsia was very closely related to GERD symptomatology in this Pakistani sample. Symptom burden was significantly associated with gender, age, family history, and chronic illness. These findings give insight into the area of overlap between GERD and dyspepsia, indicating the need for concurrent diagnostic and therapeutic approaches in assessing such populations within local validity.