Objective To compare the difference in clinical epidemiologic features between patients with functional heartburn and patients with refractory gastroesophageal reflux disease (rGERD). Methods The clinical data of eight patients with functional heartburn and 38 patients with rGERD identified by 24-hour impedance/pH monitoring were analyzed retrospectively. The questionnaire including demography characteristics and GERD questionnaire (GerdQ), reflux symptoms scale (RSS) along with Self-rating Anxiety scale (SAS) and Self-rating Depression Scale(SDS) were used. All the data were input into database by using EpiData 3.0 software and analyzed using SPSS 15.0 software. Results There were no significant differences in the age, gender, body mass index (BMI, kg/m²), symptoms as well as scores of RSS, SAS and SDS (P>0.05) between the two groups. However, GerdQ score in patients with rGERD group (median 8) was higher than FH group (median 6)(P<0.01). Conclusions GerdQ score in FH group is significantly lower than that in rGERD group.