PT - JOURNAL ARTICLE AU - Khalil Ansarin AU - Akbar Sharifi TI - Effect of GERD on clinical severity and functional characteristics of lung function in asthma DP - 2011 Sep 01 TA - European Respiratory Journal PG - p951 VI - 38 IP - Suppl 55 4099 - http://erj.ersjournals.com/content/38/Suppl_55/p951.short 4100 - http://erj.ersjournals.com/content/38/Suppl_55/p951.full SO - Eur Respir J2011 Sep 01; 38 AB - Background: It is known that almost one third of patients with asthma have symptomatic evidence for coexisting gastroesophageal reflux disorder (GERD) which is thought to be aggravating factor in asthma at least in some cases.Aims and objectives: We investigated the impact of coexisting GERD on the severity and functional characteristics of asthma.Methods: Ninety-two patients with asthma diagnosed on the basis of ATS criteria were studied. Asthma clinical severity was measured in using asthma control test (ACT) and evidence for GERD was verified using standard questionnaire. Spirometry, impulse oscillometry, and lung volume studies (using body-plethysmograph and IOS both provide by Jaeger, Germany) were performed. The difference between total airway resistance (TAWR) indicated by resistance at 5Hz and central airway resistance (CAWR) as indicated by resistance at 20 Hz in oscillometry was calculated as representative of resistance of peripheral airways (PAWR). The relationship between the symptoms of GERD, ACT score and parameters of lung function were analyzed.Results: PAWR and TAWR were both significantly higher in asthma patients with GERD symptoms than patients without GERD symptoms (mean ranks of 56.6 versus 41.9; P=0.01 and 55.8 versus 43.0 kpL/s; p=0.04, respectively). However, the values for ACT score, FEV1, FVC, PEF, RV, TLC, FRC/TLC were not significantly different in these two groupsConclusion: Clinical severity of asthma measured by ACT score is not different in asthma patients with and without GERD symptoms and central and peripheral airway resistance is equally influenced by symptomatic GERD.