Abstract
Background: Several studies have identified associations between asthma and gastro-oesophageal reflux but it is unclear if reflux leads to asthma or if asthma precipitates reflux.
Methods: Associations between symptoms of gastro-oesophageal reflux at age 26 and asthma, wheeze and airway hyperresponsiveness since age 9 were investigated in a birth cohort of 1037 individuals.
Results: Symptoms of heartburn and acid regurgitation that were at least moderately bothersome at age 26 were significantly associated with asthma, wheeze, and nocturnal cough in both sexes. In women reflux symptoms were also associated with a bronchodilator response to salbutamol and a lower FEV1/FVC ratio. The associations were stronger in those who were not-atopic. Persistent wheezing since childhood, persistence of diagnosed asthma since teenage years, and bronchial responsiveness to methacholine since age 11 were associated with an increased risk of reflux symptoms at age 26.
Conclusions: Reflux symptoms are significantly associated with asthma in young adults. Longstanding wheeze, bronchial hyperresponsiveness, and to a lesser extent, diagnosed asthma, are risk factors for adult reflux symptoms. The mechanism of these associations remains unclear.