Vonoprazan causes symptomatic improvement in non-erosive gastroesophageal reflux disease: A systematic review and meta-analysis

Objective

To evaluate the efficacy and safety of vonoprazan therapy as compared to conventional proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) or no vonoprazan for non-erosive esophagitis.

Methods

A thorough search was conducted across databases. The primary outcome was to determine the mean variance in the gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) score after vonoprazan treatment. Secondary outcomes comprised alterations in the scores for epigastric pain and post-prandial distress, the proportion of patients displaying improvement, and the occurrence of adverse events. Pooled mean differences and relative risks were determined utilizing random effects models.

Results

A total of 1,944 articles were screened and nine of them were included. As compared to PPI or no vonoprazan therapy, vonoprazan treatment led to a significant reduction in the GERD score [mean difference: -3.88 (95 % CI: -5.48, -2.28), p < 0.01, i²=95 %]. As compared to PPI or no vonoprazan therapy, vonoprazan treatment led to a significant reduction in the epigastric pain score [mean difference: -3.02 (95 % CI: -5.41, -0.63), p = 0.01, i²=75 %] and post-prandial distress score [mean difference: -2.82 (95 % CI: -3.51, -2.12), p < 0.01, i²=0 %] (all moderate GRADE evidence). Vonoprazan therapy was found to be safe.

Conclusion

Treatment with vonoprazan could significantly improve symptoms in patients with non-erosive esophagitis or non-erosive GERD.