Prevalence of gastroesophageal reflux in asthma

A high prevalence of gastroesophageal reflux disease (GER) in asthma patien ts has been shown in several reports from North America and Europe. However , no data from Southern Europe are available. This paper evaluates the prev alence of abnormal reflux in asthmatics, the pattern of acid reflux when pr esent, and the relationship between asthma and GER. Eighty-one consecutive ambulatory patients with clinically stable asthma (41 women; median age 40 years, range 17-69 years) were prospectively evaluated. All patients had a thorough digestive history; baseline pulmonary function studies, including bronchoprovocation methacholine test; and ambulatory 24-hr esophageal pH mo nitoring. Reflux symptoms were present in 40 patients (49%). Twelve patient s had abnormal GER as defined by pH testing, giving a prevalence rate of 15 % (95% confidence interval 8%-24%). The presence of acid reflux was not ass ociated with a more severe respiratory disease. Abnormal GER seems not to be a clinically significant problem in many patie nts with asthma in our area.