Table 3.
Summary of the results of the review
| Difference between GERD and non GERD group | Sensitivity | |||||
| Number of studies | Relation1 | Level of evidence2 | Number of studies | Range | median | |
| GERD symptoms | ||||||
| Vomiting | 5 | yes | A | 8 | 22–100 | 57 |
| Rumination | 3 | yes | A | 3 | 31–40 | 32 |
| Regurgitation | 4 | no | A | 5 | 29–46 | 32 |
| Food refusal | 3 | no | A | 4 | 29–49 | 38 |
| Hematemesis | 6 | yes | A | 8 | 4–41 | 17 |
| Iron deficiency anemia | 3 | no | A | 4 | 11–35 | 17 |
| (Recurrent) pneumonia | 3 | no | A | 4 | 16–52 | 25 |
| COPD, bronchitis, asthma) | 1 | no | C | 3 | 11–36 | 33 |
| Respiratory symptoms | 1 | no | C | 1 | - | 44 |
| Stridor | 1 | no | C | 1 | - | 24 |
| Wheezing | 1 | Yes | C | 1 | - | 43 |
| Failure to thrive | 3 | +/-1 | B | 5 | 7–92 | 40 |
| Adiposity | 1 | No | B | 1 | - | 18 |
| Dental erosion | 2 | Yes | A | 2 | 59–75 | 67 |
| Behavioral symptoms | ||||||
| Behavior problems | 2 | no | A | 2 | 47–48 | 48 |
| Automutilation | 2 | no | A | 3 | 19–29 | 23 |
| Aggression | 2 | no | A | 2 | 19–23 | 21 |
| Fear | 1 | no | A | 1 | - | 11 |
| Episodes of screaming | 2 | no | A | 2 | 23–24 | 24 |
| Depression | 1 | yes | A | 1 | - | 17 |
| Restlessness | 2 | no | A | 2 | 19–23 | 21 |
| Pain/irritability | 2 | +/- | C | 3 | 34–52 | 44 |
| Heartburn | 1 | no | C | 2 | 9–12 | 11 |
| Changed behavior | 1 | yes | B | 1 | - | 70 |
| Predisposing factors | ||||||
| Nonambulance | 4 | no | A | 4 | 44–58 | 52 |
| Scoliosis | 4 | no | A | 4 | 31–50 | 49 |
| Cerebral Palsy | 5 | yes | A | 5 | 46–70 | 61 |
| Use of anticonvulsive therapy | 4 | yes | A | 4 | 46–72 | 63 |
| Central Nervous System Disease | 1 | yes | A | 1 | - | 45 |
| IQ < 35 | 3 | yes | A | 3 | 80–88 | 82 |
| Other factors | ||||||
| Sex (males) | 3 | no | A | 3 | 56–60 | 58 |
| Down's syndrome | 2 | no | A | 2 | 11–13 | 12 |
| Constipation | 4 | no | A | 4 | 46–65 | 60 |
| Melena | 1 | no | C | 1 | - | 4 |
| Nasogastric feeding | 2 | no | A | 2 | 4–7 | 6 |
| Gastrostomy feeding | 2 | +/- | A | 2 | 11–16 | 14 |
1 Statistically significant relation between a characteristic and GERD. +/- indicates that results are contradictory.
2 Level A highest level of evidence, level B = intermediate level of evidence, C = lowest level of evidence.