Prevalence of GERD among adult asthmatics visiting a tertiary care hospital

Abstract

Asthma and its control is influenced by both external environmental factors and also on the presence of several comorbid conditions like allergic rhinitis, gastro esophageal reflux disease(GERD), obesity etc. We aim to study the prevalence of GERD in adult asthmatic patients visiting a tertiary care hospital. We conducted a period prevalence survey of adult asthmatics visiting the outpatient department. Gastro esophageal reflux disease was diagnosed clinically through GERD-Q questionnaire. The study was conducted at Sri Venkateswaraa Medical College and Hospital and Research Institute, Chennai. A total of 110 patients were taken for the study. GERD was prevalent among 50% of the study population. 86.2% of the smokers in the study were having GERD. Mean Body Mass Index(BMI) in the study population was 29.14 +/- 4.8 with 72.7% of the patients with gastro esophageal disease were overweight in their body mass index. Significant number of patients with asthma are known to suffer from GERD. GERD worsens the symptoms in asthma and makes it difficult to control with regular inhalational therapy. Being overweight in BMI, smoking are risk factors to the development of gastro esophageal disease and also influence lung function in asthma patients. Symptoms for GERD must be questioned to treat the disease and adequately control asthma.