OBJECTIVES: GERD is a common condition in daily clinical practice associated with reduced quality of life and impact on productivity. The aims of the current study were to estimate the prevalence of GERD in primary care by using a novel diagnostic tool (GerdQ questionnaire) and to assess the impact of the disease in productivity. METHODS: The Greek GerdQ study was a cross-sectional, single-visit, epidemiological study in patients presenting to their physician with upper GI symptoms. Data on patients’ demographics, medical/GI history and upper GI symptoms were recorded by the investigators. All subjects completed the GerdQ, and those scored ≥ 8 also completed the WPAI-GERD questionnaire for the evaluation of GERD impact on productivity. RESULTS: Overall 889 (887 evaluable) patients were enrolled by 91 primary care physicians. 47% of patients were male. Mean (±SD) age was 51 (17) years with 37.5% of patients presenting no previous history of GI tract disorders. The most prevalent GI symptoms in the week prior to study visit were heartburn, regurgitation and belching, presenting a high frequency (≥ 2 days/week or daily) in 62.4%, 47% and 50.2% of the patients, respectively. Antisecretory treatment was reported by 62% of patients. Based on GerdQ, 71.8% patients had GERD (GerdQ score ≥ 8) while 45.1% of them were suffering from disrupting disease (GerdQ impact score ≥ 3). Mean (±SD) absenteeism due to GERD was 2.3 (4.9) hours/week with a mean (±SD) of 11.8 (9.6) additional hours/week lost due to presenteeism. The observed reduction in daily life productivity was 37.4%. CONCLUSIONS: These data suggest that in Greece, GERD is a highly prevalent condition in primary care patients with upper GI symptoms, posing a significant burden to patients in terms of reduced productivity both in work and in daily life.