The Impact of Circadian Preferences on Quality of Life in Patients With Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease: An Evaluation Using the SF-36.

Background/Aims: Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) is a common gastrointestinal disorder that negatively impacts individuals' quality of life. Methods: This study investigates the effect of circadian preferences on the quality of life in patients with GERD. A total of 152 participants (80 patients diagnosed with GERD and 72 healthy controls) were included in the study. Participants' circadian preferences were assessed using the morningness-eveningness questionnaire (MEQ), quality of life was evaluated with the SF-36 scale, and the severity of GERD symptoms was measured using the gastroesophageal reflux disease quality of life scale (GERD-QOL). Results: The study's findings indicate that the quality of life and circadian preferences of GERD patients differ significantly from those of the control group. Correlation analyses revealed a positive relationship between SF-36 and MEQ, but no direct relationship was found between GERD-QOL and SF-36 or MEQ. Mediation analyses demonstrated that the effect of GERD-QOL on SF-36 is entirely mediated by circadian preferences. Conclusions: These results highlight the significant impact of circadian preferences on the quality of life in GERD patients, suggesting that individuals with an evening chronotype may have lower quality of life. Our study contributes to the literature as one of the first to suggest that circadian preferences should be considered in the management of GERD.