Prevalence and severity of bronchial asthma in gerd patients – a retrospective study in resident expat workers cohort of united arab emirates

Background: A complex bi-directional relationship has been observed between Bronchial Asthma (BA) and Gastro-esophageal reflux disease (GERD). Both these diseases are known to aggravate each other and management of one is necessary for the control of the other. Despite increasing incidence and prevalence of both diseases in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) there is paucity of data from the region on this topic. Aim: To evaluate the prevalence and severity of bronchial asthma and other allergic respiratory disorders in patients with GERD. Materials and Methods: Study was conducted at Lifecare Hospital, Abu Dhabi in the Department of Gastroenterology in association with the department of Pulmonology and Family medicine. Subjects included 150 cases of gastro esophageal reflux disease (GERD) who had symptoms of bronchial asthma and other respiratory disorders like chronic cough, chronic rhinosinusitis and Allergic bronchitis. 150 cases of Functional dyspepsia served as controls. Results: The study revealed that diagnosis of Bronchial Asthma was significantly more in GERD (37%) as compared to other respiratory allergic disorders (19%). The most common variant was mild persistent asthma (63%) followed by moderate persistent (22%) and severe (15%). Chronic cough was observed in (22%), Chronic Rhinosinusitis (18%) and allergic bronchitis (3%). Spirometry evidence of Bronchial asthma was found in 57% of the GERD as compared to 37.93% of the controls. This difference was found to be statistically significant. Conclusion: The study showed that Bronchial asthma was significantly more common in GERD as compared to the controls with Functional Dyspepsia. Other Allergic respiratory disorders were also more common in GERD as against controls. Peripheral Eosinophilia was more common in patients with GERD and bronchial asthma, chronic cough and CRS compared to controls suggesting that GERD patients with eosinophilia should be evaluated for other allergic disorders.