[Prevalence of gastroesophageal reflux disease in patients with bronchial asthma]

The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) in patient with asthma, its relation to the severity of asthma, BMI (body mass index) and method of treatment. Two hundred eight patients with asthma were included in the study. All patients were carefully studied for asthma severity and surveyed using questionnaire specific for diagnosis of GERD also BMI was determined. Among the asthmatics 22.1% had chronic severe asthma, 43.3% had chronic moderate asthma and 34.6% had chronic mild asthma. GERD was present in 86.9% of patients with severe asthma (p<0.001 as compared to moderate and mild asthma), 62.2% of patients with moderate asthma and 48.6% of patients with mild asthma. BMI was significantly higher in patients with severe asthma and reached 28+/-5.3 kg/m2. GERD was present in all patients with severe asthma and BMI above 30 kg/m2. 72.5%, 17.85% and 8.6% of patients with severe, moderate and mild asthma respectively, experienced symptoms of GERD after ingestion of theophylline and oral steroids. The study demonstrated a greater prevalence of GERD symptoms in severe asthma and related GERD to BMI and treatment with theophylline and systemic steroids.