AHRQ - Comparative Effectiveness Review

Drugs can be as effective as surgery for management of gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), according to a new AHRQ report, "Comparative Effectiveness of Management Strategies for Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease."

The report is the first Comparative Effectiveness Review from AHRQ's new Effective Health Care Program that synthesizes and then compares alternative treatments for health conditions. GERD, one of the most common health conditions among older Americans, results in $10 billion annually in direct health care costs. The study compares treatment approaches for chronic uncomplicated GERD, where the condition is likely to require life-long management but does not involve more serious disease of the esophagus.

Read the AHRQ press release and the report.
Also see other Effective Health care topics in progress, as well as reports in draft form