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The Effect of the LEFT Smartwatch App as Sleep Positional Therapy for Nocturnal Gastroesophageal Reflux Symptoms.

The Effect of the LEFT Smartwatch App as Sleep Positional Therapy for Nocturnal Gastroesophageal Reflux Symptoms.

Status
Completed
Phases
NA
Study type
Interventional
Source
ClinicalTrials.gov
Registry ID
NCT06075082
Acronym
LEFT-APP
Enrollment
18
Registered
2023-10-10
Start date
2023-10-01
Completion date
2024-10-07
Last updated
2025-05-31

For informational purposes only — not medical advice. Sourced from public registries and may not reflect the latest updates. Terms

Conditions

Gastroesophageal Reflux, Heartburn

Keywords

Sleep positional therapy

Brief summary

The main objectives of the study are (1) to investigate if sleep positional therapy, using the LEFT smartwatch app reduces nocturnal gastroesophageal reflux symptoms in patients with gastroesophageal reflux disease symptomatology at night and (2) stimulates patients to avoid sleeping in the right lateral sleep position.

Detailed description

Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) is one of the most common gastro-intestinal disorders and approximately 50-80% of the GERD patients experience nocturnal gastroesophageal reflux symptoms. Symptoms at night have a negative impact on sleep quality, daytime functioning and quality of life. When sleeping in left lateral decubitus position, the stomach is positioned below the esophagus, resulting in less reflux compared to sleeping in right lateral decubitus position. Sleep positional therapy, using an electronic wearable device which gently vibrates in an annoying way when turning in the sleep to the disadvantageous right lateral decubitus position, stimulates subjects to avoid sleeping in the right lateral decubitus position and effectively alleviates nocturnal gastroesophageal reflux symptoms. This prospective single center interventional pilot study will aim to (1) investigate if sleep positional therapy, using the LEFT smartwatch app reduces nocturnal gastroesophageal reflux symptoms in patients with GERD symptomatology at night and (2) stimulates patients to avoid sleeping in the right lateral sleep position.

Interventions

DEVICELEFT smartwatch app

The LEFT smartwatch app is an app on the Apple Watch which measures body sleep position and gently vibrates when the body is in the right lateral decubitus position. In this way, patients with nocturnal gastroesophageal reflux symptoms learn to avoid the right lateral sleep position as they will avoid the annoying vibrations. Measurements while using the smartwatch app will be compared to measurements at baseline.

Sponsors

Academisch Medisch Centrum - Universiteit van Amsterdam (AMC-UvA)
Lead SponsorOTHER

Study design

Allocation
NA
Intervention model
SINGLE_GROUP
Primary purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
NONE

Eligibility

Sex/Gender
ALL
Age
18 Years to No maximum
Healthy volunteers
No

Inclusion criteria

* Written informed consent. * Both male and female patients will be included. * Age 18 years or older. * Symptoms of heartburn and/or acid regurgitation during at least three nights a week. * A total reflux symptom score ≥8 (measured through the GERDQ questionnaire score). * Able to wear the Apple Watch on the left wrist.

Exclusion criteria

* Complete PPIs non-responders. * Nightshift workers * Surgery of the esophagus or stomach. * Regular use of sleep medication (benzodiazepines) or medication which affect gastrointestinal motility (e.g. prokinetics or opioids) that cannot be stopped during the duration of the trial. * Severe and clinically unstable concomitant disease (e.g. liver, cardiovascular or lung disease, neurological or psychiatric disorders, cancer or AIDS and other endocrine disorders) * Patients with obstructive sleep apnea or esophageal motility disorders. * Pregnant or lactating women.

Design outcomes

Primary

MeasureTime frameDescription
Nocturnal Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease Symptom Severity and Impact Questionnaire (N-GSSIQ)2 weeksThe primary efficacy measure is relative change in total nocturnal gastroesophageal reflux symptoms measured by the Nocturnal Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease Symptom Severity and Impact Questionnaire (N-GSSIQ). The N-GSSIQ is a 20-item questionnaire measuring the severity, morning impact and concern about nocturnal gastro-esophageal reflux disease. The N-GSSIQ is a validated questionnaire to assess nocturnal GERD symptom severity over the past 2 weeks. The N-GSSIQ is comprised of three subscales: Nocturnal Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease Symptom Severity (13 questions, score range 0-65), Morning Impact of Nocturnal Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (2 questions, score range 0-10), and Concern about Nocturnal Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (5 questions, score range 0-20). Total score ranging from 0 to 95. A higher score indicates more severe symptoms.

Secondary

MeasureTime frameDescription
Treatment success2 weeksPercent responders as treatment success, defined as subjects with a minimal 50% reduction in nocturnal gastroesophageal reflux symptoms measured by N-GSSIQ
Change in total Nocturnal Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease Symptom Severity and Impact Questionnaire (N-GSSIQ) score.2 weeksChange in total Nocturnal Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease Symptom Severity and Impact Questionnaire (N-GSSIQ) score. The N-GSSIQ is a 20-item questionnaire measuring the severity, morning impact and concern about nocturnal gastro-esophageal reflux disease. The N-GSSIQ is a validated questionnaire to assess nocturnal GERD symptom severity over the past 2 weeks. The N-GSSIQ is comprised of three subscales: Nocturnal Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease Symptom Severity (13 questions, score range 0-65), Morning Impact of Nocturnal Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (2 questions, score range 0-10), and Concern about Nocturnal Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (5 questions, score range 0-20). Total score ranging from 0 to 95. A higher score indicates more severe symptoms.
Sleep position2 weeksChange in sleep position. Four sleep positions will be studied: left lateral decubitus, right lateral decubitus, supine and prone. The outcome sleep position will be noted as percentage of the time sleeping in a certain sleep position during the entire sleep.
Number of nocturnal reflux free nights2 weeksChange in the number of nocturnal reflux free nights measured by daily symptom diary
Reflux disease questionnaire (RDQ)2 weeksChange in reflux symptoms measured by Reflux disease questionnaire (RDQ) questionnaire. The RDQ is a validated 12-item questionnaire to obtain information on the current severity and frequency of reflux symptoms (heartburn, regurgitation and dyspepsia). The three subscales are the different reflux symptoms and consist of four questions. Scores were scaled with a Likert scale which ranges from 0 to 5. Subjects have more frequent and severe reflux symptoms if the RDQ score is higher
Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI)2 weeksChange in sleep quality measured by Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI). The PSQI is a validated 19-item questionnaire assessing various factors relating to sleep quality, sleep disturbance and usual sleep habits. The 19 items are grouped into seven component scores (sleep quality, sleep onset latency, sleep duration, sleep efficiency, sleep disturbances, use of sleep medication and daytime dysfunction). The seven component scores are summed to calculate a global PSQI score, which has a range of 0-21. A higher score indicates a worse sleep quality; and a score above 5 is suspect for insomnia.
Functional Outcomes of Sleep Questionnaire (FOSQ)2 weeksChange in sleep quality measured by Functional Outcomes of Sleep Questionnaire (FOSQ). The FOSQ is a validated questionnaire about sleep-quality of life which consists of 30 questions. The short form which consists of 10 questions will be used in this study. Questions have a 4-point Likert scale. The recall period is not specified, but two weeks will be used in this study. A lowerscore indicates a worse sleep quality.

Countries

Netherlands

Outcome results

None listed

Source: ClinicalTrials.gov · Data processed: Feb 4, 2026