This study aims to determine whether successful laparoscopic
fundoplication for
gastroesophageal reflux disease (
GERD) can improve the control of
hypertension. We conducted an observational study of
GERD patients with
hypertension. The esophageal and gastroesophageal symptoms of these patients were successfully treated with laparoscopic
fundoplication, as measured by the reduced
GERD symptoms and
proton pump inhibitor consumption. A
hypertension control scale was used to classify the use of
antihypertensive medications and the quality of blood pressure control before and after anti-reflux surgery.Wilcoxon signed-ranks test was used for the statistical analyses. Seventy
GERD patients were included in the analysis and followed up for a mean period of 3.5 ± 1.4 years. Prior to surgery, all participating patients were taking at least one class of
antihypertensive medication, and 56 patients (80%) had intermittently
high blood pressure. After surgery, the mean number of
antihypertensive medication classes per patient was significantly reduced from 1.61 ± 0.77 pre-procedure to 1.27 ± 0.88 post-procedure (P < 0.001). The blood pressure of 48 of the 56 cases (86%) with preoperative intermittent
high blood pressure returned to normal post procedure. A total of 50 patients (71%) recorded improvements on the
hypertension control scale, with the overall mean score decreasing from 3.1 ± 1.0 preprocedure to 1.4 ± 1.0 post-procedure (P < 0.001). Therefore, successful laparoscopic
fundoplication may result in better blood pressure control in some hypertensive
GERD patients. This result suggests a possible connection between
gastroesophageal reflux and
hypertension.