Skip to main page content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Dot gov

The .gov means it’s official.
Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you’re on a federal government site.

Https

The site is secure.
The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely.

Access keys NCBI Homepage MyNCBI Homepage Main Content Main Navigation
Comparative Study
. 2006 Dec 5;7(1):142.
doi: 10.1186/1465-9921-7-142.

Associations between respiratory symptoms, lung function and gastro-oesophageal reflux symptoms in a population-based birth cohort

Robert J Hancox  1 , Richie Poulton, D Robin Taylor, Justina M Greene, Christene R McLachlan, Jan O Cowan, Erin M Flannery, G Peter Herbison, Malcolm R Sears, Nicholas J Talley
Affiliations
Comparative Study

Associations between respiratory symptoms, lung function and gastro-oesophageal reflux symptoms in a population-based birth cohort

Robert J Hancox et al. Respir Res. .

Abstract

Background: Several studies have reported an association between asthma and gastro-oesophageal reflux, but it is unclear which condition develops first. The role of obesity in mediating this association is also unclear. We explored the associations between respiratory symptoms, lung function, and gastro-oesophageal reflux symptoms in a birth cohort of approximately 1000 individuals.

Methods: Information on respiratory symptoms, asthma, atopy, lung function and airway responsiveness was obtained at multiple assessments from childhood to adulthood in an unselected birth cohort of 1037 individuals followed to age 26. Symptoms of gastro-oesophageal reflux and irritable bowel syndrome were recorded at age 26.

Results: Heartburn and acid regurgitation symptoms that were at least "moderately bothersome" at age 26 were significantly associated with asthma (odds ratio = 3.2; 95% confidence interval = 1.6-6.4), wheeze (OR = 3.5; 95% CI = 1.7-7.2), and nocturnal cough (OR = 4.3; 95% CI = 2.1-8.7) independently of body mass index. In women reflux symptoms were also associated with airflow obstruction and a bronchodilator response to salbutamol. Persistent wheezing since childhood, persistence of asthma since teenage years, and airway hyperresponsiveness since age 11 were associated with a significantly increased risk of heartburn and acid regurgitation at age 26. There was no association between irritable bowel syndrome and respiratory symptoms.

Conclusion: Reflux symptoms are associated with respiratory symptoms in young adults independently of body mass index. The mechanism of these associations remains unclear.

PubMed Disclaimer

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Prevalence of reflux symptoms at age 26 according to history of asthma. No asthma = denies ever having had asthma by age 26 (n = 543). Child-persistent 9 = asthma reported at age 9 or 11 and also at age 26 (n = 70). Teen-persistent = asthma first reported at age 13, 15 or 18 and still present at age 26 (n = 42). Adult-onset = asthma first reported at age 21 or 26 (n = 78). Asthma remission = asthma reported at an earlier age, but not at 26 (n = 174). * = p < 0.05 compared to no asthma.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Prevalence of reflux symptoms at age 26 according to history of wheeze. No wheeze = denies ever having had wheeze by age 26 (n = 249). Child-persistent = wheeze at age 9 or 11 and also at age 26 (n = 102). Teen- persistent = wheeze first reported at age 13, 15 or 18 and still present at age 26 (n = 127). Adult-onset = wheeze first reported at age 21 or 26 (n = 168). Wheeze remission = wheeze reported at an earlier age, but not at 26 (n = 174). * = p < 0.05 compared to no wheeze.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

References

    1. Richter JE. Gastroesophageal reflux disease and asthma: the two are directly related. Am J Med. 2000;108 Suppl 4a:153S–158S. doi: 10.1016/S0002-9343(99)00356-3. - DOI - PubMed
    1. Sontag SJ, O'Connell S, Khandelwal S, Miller T, Nemchausky B, Schnell TG, Serlovsky R. Most asthmatics have gastroesophageal reflux with or without bronchodilator therapy. Gastroenterology. 1990;99(3):613–620. - PubMed
    1. Sontag SJ, Schnell TG, Miller TQ, Khandelwal S, O'Connell S, Chejfec G, Greenlee H, Seidel UJ, Brand L. Prevalence of oesophagitis in asthmatics. Gut. 1992;33(7):872–876. - PMC - PubMed
    1. Sontag SJ. Why do the published data fail to clarify the relationship between gastroesophageal reflux and asthma? Am J Med. 2000;108 Suppl 4a:159S–169S. doi: 10.1016/S0002-9343(99)00357-5. - DOI - PubMed
    1. Harding SM. Gastroesophageal reflux, asthma, and mechanisms of interaction. Am J Med. 2001;111 Suppl 8A:8S–12S. doi: 10.1016/S0002-9343(01)00817-8. - DOI - PubMed

Publication types

MeSH terms