The present study included 100 patients, of which 75 were
patients of CKD with upper GI symptoms; and 25 with
upper GI symptoms without CKD served as the control
group. 75 cases of CKD were further subdivided into 3
groups – A, B, and C, as detailed below.
Group A consisted of 25 patients of CKD with upper GI
symptoms. All these were regularly receiving twice a week
haemodialysis and did not receive PPI for relief of
symptoms. These patients continued to have GI symptoms
despite haemodialysis. Group B consisted of 25 patients
of CKD with upper GI symptoms and were given PPI
(pantoprazole 40 mg once a day) for GI symptoms and
none of them was receiving haemodialysis. Group C
included 25 patients of CKD with upper GI symptoms.
They received neither PPIs nor haemodialysis, but were
advised to undertake yogic exercises. The yogic exercises
were explained and demonstrated to these patients and
training was provided by trained yoga teachers. All
patients of this group were asked to do the selected yogic
exercises daily in the morning. Group D included 25
patients with upper GI symptoms without CKD and they
served as control group and were given symptomatic
treatment according to symptoms including anti-emetics
like domperidone for vomiting; antacids for heartburn;
and appetisers for anorexia.
All patients were interviewed to obtain information
regarding various gastrointestinal symptoms: Each
symptom was scored according to its frequency and
severity. Frequency was graded as 1 = occasional, 2 =
frequent, and 3 = always or daily; and severity was graded
as 1 = mild, 2 = moderate, and 3 = severe. The score for
each symptom was obtained through summation of both
frequency and severity scores. The dyspepsia score for
each patient was the sum of the scores of all dyspeptic
symptoms.
Upper gastrointestinal endoscopy was performed after
overnight fasting using an Olympus endoscope. Preinformed
written consent was obtained from all patients
before their inclusion into the study. All patients were
regularly followed for a period of 3 months. Participants
were evaluated at monthly intervals for upper GI
symptoms, biochemical parameters, and upper GI
endoscopy was done at the beginning and at the end of
the study. At the end of the study, upper GI symptoms,
endoscopic findings and effect of haemodialysis, PPIs and
yoga on upper GI symptoms and endoscopic changes in
patients of CKD were evaluated.