Pioneering research study to improve care of heartburn goes live
Heartburn Health, a national research programme to find ways to improve care for people with heartburn, indigestion or acid reflux is live in south east London and is looking for volunteers with these symptoms, aged 55-79 to take part.
Supported by the NHS and Cancer Research UK, Heartburn Health is creating a community of at least 120,000 people who experience heartburn, indigestion or acid reflux. Taking part will help create a dedicated national bioresource on heartburn and acid reflux that will speed up research that aims to improve care, manage symptoms and the improve the overall health and wellbeing of people with these symptoms.
The Heartburn Health research team is asking men aged 55 to 79 and women aged 65 to 79 who have acid reflux, indigestion or heartburn or take medication for these symptoms, to spare a few minutes to self- enrol now, through the Heartburn Health website, by clicking this this link.
The research programme is being supported by King’s College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust – Princess Royal University Hospital (PRUH).
Heartburn is extremely common, affecting up to 25% of adults in the UK according to Guts UK*. It is estimated that around 1 in 10 people with persistent heartburn will develop Barrett’s Oesophagus, and between 3 and 13 in 100 of those will go on to develop oesophageal cancer- where cells in the food pipe start to grow abnormally – in their lifetime. **
According to analysis from Cancer Research UK*** there are around 9,300 new cases of oesophageal cancer in the UK every year. It is the seventh most common cause of cancer death in the UK.
It only takes minutes to sign up to Heartburn Health and by doing so, participants will represent South East London by being part of a unique national research programme to transform care for people with heartburn.
The information provided by volunteers will be used securely by approved researchers to answer important research questions.
How to get involved:
This research programme is open to men aged 55 to 79 and women aged 65 to 79 who have regular symptoms of heartburn, acid reflux, or indigestion, or who regularly use medication to manage these symptoms.
You can enrol now online by clicking the link here to help improve the lives of people with heartburn, indigestion and acid reflux. You can also call 0808 281 4772 with any questions or support with signing up.
If you receive a text message from ‘NHSresearch’, you can also click the link in the message to sign up.
Visit www.heartburnhealth.org for more information about the programme, including details of how to take part.
What are the benefits of enrolling?
Joining Heartburn Health will give you the chance to take part in ground-breaking research and make important discoveries about reflux and related health conditions, possible.
Who is involved:
Heartburn Health has been created by clinicians and researchers at the University of Cambridge and Queen Mary University of London. The NHS and Cancer Research UK are also supporting this research programme.
Data sources
* https://gutscharity.org.uk/advice-and-information/symptoms/heartburn-and-reflux/
**Action Against Heartburn, 2024. Heartburn & Cancer – Medical Background. [online] Available at: https://www.actionagainstheartburn.org.uk/medical-background/ [Accessed 30 September 2024]