Aim of the study: To evaluate correlation of the main clinical sign – heartburn – in relation to the degree of RO. Until today the correlation between the stage of RO and the frequency or intensity of heartburn has not been confirmed in Slovakia. Method: More than 30 Slovak gastroenterologists collected history data and examined by endoscopy 198 patients with history of heartburn and divided them into four groups marked A to D according to the Los Angeles (L.A.) classification. A questionnaire was used to obtain information on the frequency of heartburn, which was then compared with the degree of RO. The study required patients with Helicobacter pylori negativity (by microscopy and rapid urease test) and patients older than 18. Results: Out of the 198 examined patients 57 of them (28.79%) were diagnosed with the A grade of RO according to the L.A. classification, 93 patients (46.97%) with the B grade, 46 patients (23.23%) with the C grade and finally 2 patients (1.01%) were diagnosed with the most serious type, the D grade. The patients were then divided into 4 groups in each grade of disease according to the frequency of heartburn occurrence, and statistically evaluated by chi-quadrat and Fisher’s tests. The four groups of heartburn frequency were the following: group of 46 patients suffering from heartburn 2–4 times a week, group of 23 patients suffering from heartburn 4–6 times a week, 77 patients suffering from heartburn every day, and the last group of 52 patients suffering from heartburn several times a day. The A grade of RO correlated with the lowest frequency of heartburn (2–4×/week regarding 40.3% patients, p = 0.06). Majority of the patients with daily heartburn occurrence was found in the B grade (48.38%, p < 0.05). The patients suffering from heartburn several times a day dominated in the C grade (23.23%, p = 0.08). The 2 patients with frequency of heartburn occurrence 1×/day (1.01%, p < 0.04) were in the D grade. Conclusion: In the given group of patients the correlation of heartburn frequency with the grade of RO was found as statistically significant only in the B grade (p < 0.05) and in the D grade (p < 0.04), while the trend of the correlation can be seen also in the other stages, however, of a lower statistical significance. The pattern, frequency of reflux symptom is poor predictor of the severity of oesophagitis.

        Key words: reflux oesophagitis – questionnaire – heartburn