Nocturnal gastro-oesophageal reflux, asthma and symptoms of OSA: a longitudinal, general population study.

• Published in: European Respiratory Journal
• Main Authors: Emilsson, Össur I, Bengtsson, Anna, Franklin, Karl A, Torén, Kjell, Benediktsdóttir, Bryndís, Farkhooy, Amir, Weyler, Joost, Dom, Sandra, De Backer, Wilfried, Gislason, Thorarinn, Janson, Christer
• Other Authors: Univ Iceland, Fac Med, Landspitali Univ Hosp, IS-101 Reykjavik, Iceland, Landspitali Univ Hosp, Dept Resp Med & Sleep, Reykjavik, Iceland, Umea Univ, Dept Resp Med, Umea, Sweden, Umea Univ, Dept Surg, Umea, Sweden, Univ Gothenburg, Inst Med, Sect Occupat & Environm Med, Gothenburg, Sweden, Uppsala Univ, Dept Resp Med & Allergol, Uppsala, Sweden. Univ Antwerp, Dept Epidemiol & Social Med, B-2020 Antwerp, Belgium, Univ Antwerp, Dept Pulm Med, B-2020 Antwerp, Belgium
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: European Respiratory Soc Journals 2013
• Subjects: Astma; Bakflæði; Adult; Asthma; Belgium; Female; Follow-Up Studies; Gastroesophageal Reflux; Humans; Iceland; International Cooperation; Longitudinal Studies; Male; Middle Aged; Odds Ratio; Prospective Studies; Quality of Life; Questionnaires; Respiratory Function Tests; Risk Factors; Sleep Apnea; Obstructive; Spirometry; Sweden
• Online Access: http://hdl.handle.net/2336/312896; https://doi.org/10.1183/09031936.00052512

To access publisher's full text version of this article. Please click on the hyperlink in Additional Links field. Nocturnal gastro-oesophageal reflux (nGOR) is associated with asthma and obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA). Our aim was to investigate whether nGOR is a risk factor for onset of asthma and onset of respiratory and OSA symptoms in a prospective population-based study. We invited 2640 subjects from Iceland, Sweden and Belgium for two evaluations over a 9-year interval. They participated in structured interviews, answered questionnaires, and underwent spirometries and methacholine challenge testing. nGOR was defined by reported symptoms. Subjects with persistent nGOR (n=123) had an independent increased risk of new asthma at follow-up (OR 2.3, 95% CI 1.1-4.9). Persistent nGOR was independently related to onset of respiratory symptoms (OR 3.0, 95% CI 1.6-5.6). The risk of developing symptoms of OSA was increased in subjects with new and persistent nGOR (OR 2.2, 95% CI 1.3-1.6, and OR 2.0, 95% CI 1.0-3.7, respectively). No significant association was found between nGOR and lung function or bronchial responsiveness. Persistent symptoms of nGOR contribute to the development of asthma and respiratory symptoms. New onset of OSA symptoms is higher among subjects with symptoms of nGOR. These findings provide evidence that nGOR may play a role in the genesis of respiratory symptoms and diseases. Swedish Heart and Lung foundation Swedish Asthma and Allergy Association Vardal Foundation for Health Care Science and Allergy Research Icelandic Research Council Landspitali University Hospital Fund Research Foundation of Flanders, Belgium