Association of Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease Symptoms with Stable Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease

Background  

Patients with various chronic respiratory diseases have a higher incidence of gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD)-related symptoms, but the mechanisms of the relationship between GERD symptoms and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) remain unclear. The aim of the present study was to explore the association of GERD symptoms with impaired pulmonary function and other factors in patients with COPD.     

Prevalence of gastroesophageal reflux disease in patients with asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease

Background and Aim: It is speculated that the prevalence of gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) might increase with asthma or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). The aim of the present study was to evaluate the prevalence of GERD in patients with asthma and COPD in an area representative of developing countries. Methods: A validated GERD questionnaire was conducted face‐to‐face with 308 consecutive asthma (240 women) and 133 COPD (35 women) patients in the tertiary referral pulmonary outpatient clinic, and 694 controls from the research area. Detailed histories of patients and pulmonary function tests were also recorded. Results: The prevalence of GERD (heartburn/regurgitation once a week or more) was 25.4%, 17.0%, 19.4% and occasional symptoms (less than weekly) were 21.2%, 16.3% and 27.0% of patients with asthma, COPD and controls, respectively. The prevalence was higher in the asthma group compared with the controls and the COPD group. No significant difference was found between the COPD group and the controls. Heartburn started following pulmonary disease in 24.1% of the asthma group, and 26.4% of the COPD group. The majority of additional symptoms were significantly higher in asthmatics compared with the controls. No difference was found in the consumption of pulmonary medications in asthmatic patients in groups with different symptom frequency. Heartburn was increased 13.8% by the consumption of inhaler medications. Conclusions: These results implicate that the prevalence of GERD in asthma and COPD are lower than in published reports in a tertiary referral center. These differences might be related to the characteristics of developing countries, increased consumption of powerful medications in GERD and pulmonary diseases, or methodological flaws in earlier studies.     

Prevalence of gastrointestinal symptoms in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease

BACKGROUND: Symptoms of gastro-oesophageal reflux disease (GERD) have previously been shown to be of importance in patients with asthma. Limited data, however, exist on the prevalence of GERD in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), and information about the occurrence of the total burden of gastrointestinal (GI) symptoms in these patients is lacking. METHODS: A total of 113 patients with COPD completed four self-administered questionnaires: the Gastrointestinal Symptom-Rating Scale (GSRS), ROME II modular questionnaires (criteria for irritable bowel syndrome), the Psychological General Well-Being index (PGWB), and the Hospital Anxiety and Depression scale. Eighty-two patients with chronic renal failure (CRF) and 2000 healthy individuals from the general Swedish population served as controls. RESULTS: The total GSRS score in patients with COPD was 2.12 (1.92-2.28) which was significantly higher than the score from the general population of 1.96 (1.81-2.12). No significant difference between COPD and CRF patients was, however, observed, in any of the GSRS dimensions. Patients in the COPD group had lower total PGWB scores compared both with CRF patients 90 (78-104) vs. 98 (83-113) (P<0.05) and with the general population 103 (102-104) (P<0.001). A negative correlation between the GSRS and PGWB scores (r=-0.49; P<0.001) was observed in patients with COPD. Sixteen (14%) of the patients with COPD fulfilled the Rome II criteria for irritable bowel syndrome. CONCLUSION: The prevalence of GI symptoms is higher in patients with COPD than in healthy individuals, but not higher than in CRF patients. The GI symptoms are associated with impairments in psychological well-being, and they require diagnostic workups to explore different treatment options in these patients.     

Clinical implications of gastroesophageal reflux disease and swallowing dysfunction in COPD

The intimate anatomical and physiologic relationship between the upper airway and esophagus consists of complex interactions between various muscles and nerves with both voluntary and involuntary patterns of control. Alterations in this harmonic relationship can lead to swallowing abnormalities ranging from dysphagia to gross aspiration, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) and chronic cough. There is a paucity of data regarding pathologic alterations in the upper airway-esophageal relationship in patients with COPD. The association between GERD and respiratory symptoms is well recognized in the setting of asthma; however, the nature of this relationship remains controversial. The association of GERD and COPD is even less clear. A review of the limited data on GERD and swallowing abnormalities in patients with COPD indicate that prevalence of GERD and esophageal disorders in patients with COPD is higher than in the normal population. However, its contribution to respiratory symptoms, bronchodilator use and pulmonary function in patients with COPD remains unknown. Although dysphagia and swallowing dysfunction on videofluoroscopic swallow evaluation are common in patients with COPD, their role as exacerbators of COPD remains to be elucidated. Further clinical research is necessary to evaluate the role of GERD and swallowing dysfunction in both stable and acute exacerbation of COPD.     

High prevalence of abnormal acid gastro-oesophageal reflux in idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis.

The aim of this prospective study was to determine the prevalence and characteristics of acid gastro-oesophageal reflux (GER) in patients with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF). Sixty-five consecutive patients with well-defined IPF were subjected to 24-h pH monitoring and oesophageal manometry. A total of 133 consecutive patients with intractable asthma and symptoms of GER were used as comparisons. The prevalence of abnormal acid GER in IPF patients was 87%, with 76% and 63% demonstrating abnormal distal and proximal oesophageal acid exposures, respectively. Abnormal acid GER was significantly more common in IPF patients than asthma patients. Only 47% of IPF patients experienced classic GER symptoms. Despite treatment with standard doses of proton pump inhibitors (PPIs), 12 out of 19 patients receiving PPIs during the 24-h pH monitoring had abnormal oesophageal acid exposures by pH probe. There was no correlation between IPF severity and acid GER severity. In conclusion, abnormal acid gastro-oesophageal reflux is highly prevalent, but often clinically occult in patients with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis. Standard doses of proton pump inhibitors may not suppress the acid gastro-oesophageal reflux in this population. Therefore, further studies are needed to determine if acid abnormal gastro-oesophageal reflux represents an important risk factor for idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis development or progression, and if optimal suppression of acid gastro-oesophageal reflux slows the progression of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis and/or decreases episodic exacerbations of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis.     

Extraösophageale Manifestationen der Refluxerkrankung an den Atmungsorganen

Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) is a common medical condition with a prevalence of 10–20% in the western world and almost every third GERD-patient presents with extraesophageal symptoms. The extraesophageal symptoms and disorders associated with GERD are chronic cough, bronchial asthma, sleep disturbances or aggravation of sleep disordered breathing, hoarseness, dental erosions and non-cardiac chest pain. The severity of the symptoms is variable. Typical GERD symptoms like heartburn and regurgitation can occur only faintly or not at all, and extraesophageal symptoms may be predominant. Causality and pathogenesis are not clarified conclusively, however recurrent microaspirations and nerval mechanisms are suggested. Recurrent aspirations, especially in patients with structural oesophageal disorders predispose to pulmonary infections. One hypothesis postulates a causal relationship between microaspirations and idopathic pulmonary fibrosis. This article gives an overview of reflux associated bronchopulmonary diseases and summarizes treatment options.     

Gastroesophageal reflux and chronic or acute broncho-pulmonary diseases in adults

Forty four observations of patients with chronic or acute broncho-pulmonary affections were gathered over 6 years. All exploration tests for an obstructive etiology were negative. All these patients had a hiatal hernia by sliding with gastro-oesophageal reflux. In 27 patients the repeated pulmonary accidents, the importance of oesophageal symptomatology prompted a treatment of the hiatal hernia. In all these patients every pulmonary symptoms disappeared. In assessing some acute or chronic pulmonary affections, when etiology cannot by traced, besides considering anatomical, clinical and histological data, radiological and endoscopic examination should be undertaken to find gastro-oesophageal reflux.     

胃食管反流病合并慢性阻塞性肺病急性发作的护理

目的评估综合护理干预对胃食管反流病合并慢性阻塞性肺病急性发作患者的预后效果。 方法对2017年11月18日郑州大学第一附属医院1例胃食管反流病合并慢性阻塞性肺病急性发作的患者积极治疗,同时加强基础护理、心理护理、用药护理、保持呼吸道通畅、密切观察病情变化等干预措施。 结果胃食管反流病合并慢性阻塞性肺病急性发作的患者病情明显好转,无并发症发生。 结论综合护理对胃食管反流病合并慢性阻塞性肺病急性发作患者是必要的,能提高了患者生活质量。     

The epidemiology of gastro-oesophageal reflux disease. A brief review

During the last century, gastro-oesophageal reflux disease (GERD) has become increasingly observed in Western countries. The disorder is chronic and relapsing with a clinically significant impairment in quality of life. Symptoms of GERD are very common in the general population. However, reported symptoms under-represent the true prevalence of the disease, because these do not equate with mucosal damage, and this might lead to a bias in epidemiologic surveys. Several studies have been conducted in endoscopic centres, but these were able to focus on only some consequences of GERD (oesophagitis or Barrett's oesophagus) and not on nonerosive reflux disease (NERD). The latter is a clinical condition characterised by symptoms of reflux and intraesophageal gastric content reflux in the absence of visible endoscopic oesophageal mucosal injury. Moreover, the diffuse use of acid suppressing drugs in the population is able to mask some manifestations of GERD. Other studies have been conducted in the form of questionnaires investigating the presence and the frequency of symptoms typical of GERD. These estimates have taken into consideration and assumed that heartburn is an indicator of the disease. Taking into account the many faces of GERD, and its wide spectrum of manifestations, including atypical symptoms, this could represent a serious limitation. This brief review article fosters understanding of this issue by focusing on the epidemiology of GERD.     

Gastro-oesophageal reflux and interstitial lung disease

BACKGROUND: Interstitial lung disease is a heterogeneous entity, which encompasses a large number of pulmonary disorders, including idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis. Gastro-oesophageal reflux appears to be more prevalent in idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis than in controls and in patients with secondary pulmonary fibrosis, but its contribution to interstitial lung disease remains unsettled. AIMS: To prospectively evaluate gastro-oesophageal reflux in patients with interstitial lung disease and to define acid reflux patterns in patients with idiopathic and secondary forms of pulmonary fibrosis. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Twenty-eight patients (15M, median age 66 years, interquartile range 60-71) were studied by history taking, pulmonary function tests, high resolution computed tomography, oesophageal manometry and 24h oesophago-gastric pH monitoring. RESULTS: Sixteen patients (57%) had typical reflux symptoms. All patients completed 24h pH metry and 14 underwent oesophageal manometry. An abnormal oesophageal acid exposure was observed in 19 patients (68%), 13 of which complained of predominant typical reflux symptoms. A diagnosis of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis was made in 18 patients, while the remaining 10 patients were classified as secondary pulmonary fibrosis. Secondary pulmonary fibrosis patients had more restrictive lung defect, as expressed as Tiffeneau index (p<0.05) and greater acid reflux at nighttime (p<0.05) than idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis patients. CONCLUSIONS: The prevalence of abnormal acid reflux in interstitial lung disease patients is high and, in particular, patients with secondary pulmonary fibrosis show higher oesophageal acid exposure than those with idiopathic form.     

Inflammation at the cardio-oesophageal junction: relationship to acid and bile exposure

BACKGROUND: The aetiology of inflammation in cardiac mucosa at the gastro-oesophageal junction (carditis) is unclear, although gastro-oesophageal reflux has been suggested. OBJECTIVES: To correlate histological features of carditis with oesophageal acid exposure (gastro-oesophageal reflux) and proximal gastric bile exposure (duodenogastric reflux) in patients with symptoms of gastro-oesophageal reflux disease (GORD). METHODS: Sixty-six patients with reflux symptoms underwent endoscopy with biopsy, oesophageal manometry, 24-h oesophageal pH testing and 24-h proximal gastric Bilitec 2000 testing. Inflammation in glandular mucosa was assessed using the updated Sydney System. Fifteen healthy volunteers underwent pH and Bilitec 2000 testing and served as controls. RESULTS: There was no correlation between either the presence or histological grade of carditis and oesophageal acid exposure or proximal gastric bilirubin exposure. Patients with reflux symptoms had as much duodenogastric reflux into the proximal stomach as did control subjects. CONCLUSIONS: We were unable to establish either gastro-oesophageal or duodenogastric reflux as the predominant cause of inflammation in cardiac mucosa.     

Gastro-oesophageal reflux disease and respiratory disease

Abstract An epidemiological survey showed that respiratory symptoms with gastro-oesophageal reflux (GER) were twice as high as those without GER symptoms. In 46 cases of unknown chronic cough or asthma, 67% had positive oesophageal pH monitoring. Of 34 patients with snoring and reflux symptoms, 16 (47.1%) were confirmed as positive for obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA) and GER. Anti-reflux therapy significantly improved both GER and OSA.     

Is scintigraphy of value in the diagnosis of gastrooesophageal reflux disease?

One hundred and ten patients with suspected oesophageal symptoms were investigated by means of oesophageal endoscopy (OE), 24-h pH-metry, and oesophageal scintigraphy (ES). When 24-h pH-metry formed the basis for diagnosis of gastrooesophageal reflux disease (GERD), the sensitivity for ES at abdominal compression was 64%, but no statistically significant differences were found among erect refluxers (ER), supine refluxers (SR), and combined refluxers (CR). Only 4% of the GERD patients had pathologic oesophageal clearing at ES. The more severe the macroscopic oesophagitis found by OE, the more pronounced were the abnormal findings at 24-h pH-metry and at ES with abdominal compression. Increased postprandial reflux was associated with gastro-oesophageal reflux and hiatal hernia at ES with abdominal compression and the most severe form of oesophagitis, respectively. It was concluded that ES had too low sensitivity to be recommended as a screening test for GERD. Nevertheless, the specificity of 76% can to some extent help us to rule out GERD in patients.     

Effects of dietary nitrate on oesophageal motor function and gastro-oesophageal acid exposure in healthy volunteers and reflux patients

BACKGROUND/AIMS: High concentrations of nitric oxide (NO), derived from dietary nitrite in an acid environment, have been demonstrated in the gastric fundus and in the oesophagus. The aim of this study was to investigate whether luminal NO can influence oesophageal smooth muscle performance, lower oesophageal sphincter (LOS) function or gastric and oesophageal acid exposure. METHODS: Eleven healthy volunteers and 9 patients with chronic gastro-oesophageal reflux disease (GORD) received a diet deprived of nitrate/nitrite but supplemented with placebo or potassium nitrate for 4 days in a randomised order. On day 4 in each trial period, manometry was performed including a sleeve sensor registration of the LOS followed by a simultaneous 24-hour intra-gastric and oesophageal pH registration. RESULTS: Nitrate supplementation increased the proportion of effective peristalsis when analysed for the entire study population. No other significant effects of dietary nitrate were found on oesophageal motor variables, on the sphincter resting tone or on the number or duration of transient sphincter relaxations. No effect was found on either gastric acidity or gastro-oesophageal reflux variables. Major reflux symptoms were not influenced by nitrate administration. CONCLUSION: Dietary nitrate did not significantly affect oesophageal motor or LOS function, gastro-oesophageal acid reflux or reflux symptomatology either in healthy volunteers or in GORD patients.     

Prevalence of benign oesophageal disease in the Danish population with special reference to pulmonary disease

A population sample, selected at random after stratification for the presence of pulmonary disease, was examined for benign oesophageal disease by means of a mailed questionnaire, which has been described in a previous report. Eight hundred and nine subjects without pulmonary disease, 264 with chronic bronchitis, and 248 with bronchial asthma answered the questionnaire. Subjects answering affirmatively to a discriminating combination of questions, as well as some of the participants with single symptoms and randomly selected controls without oesophageal symptoms, were invited to a clinical examination (n = 346). One hundred and seventy-five subjects accepted an invasive investigation, 86 without pulmonary disease and 89 with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Endoscopy of the upper gastrointestinal tract was performed in 169 subjects, while 168 underwent pressure measurements of the oesophagus, and 113 had oesophageal 12-h pH measurements taken. On the basis of accepted definitions we found 114 subjects with benign oesophageal disease. The diagnostic sensitivity and specificity of the discriminating combination in the non-COPD and COPD groups were 73.9%/42.9% and 89.5%/47.1% respectively. The predictive accuracy of the questionnaire in the non-COPD and COPD group was 0.41 and 0.56, respectively. Prevalence rates of benign oesophageal disease in the non-COPD and the COPD groups were 34.5% (20-49%) and 44.5% (34-55%) respectively (P less than 0.001). We estimated the prevalence rate in the general population to be about 30%.     

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and obstructive sleep apnoea—the overlap syndrome

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA) are highly prevalent disorders and the co-existence of both disorders, termed the overlap syndrome, affects at least 1% of the adult population. Patients with the overlap syndrome typically experience more pronounced nocturnal oxygen desaturation and there is a high prevalence of pulmonary hypertension in such patients. Recent evidence suggests that the prevalence of each disorder together is higher than might be predicted by simple prevalence statistics, although the evidence is not clear-cut in this regard. Sleep itself can have several negative effects in patients with COPD. Sleep quality is diminished with reduced amounts of slow wave and rapid-eye-movement (REM) sleep, which may contribute to daytime symptoms such as fatigue and lethargy. Furthermore, normal physiological adaptations during sleep that result in mild hypoventilation in normal subjects are more pronounced in COPD, which can result in clinically important nocturnal oxygen desaturation. Management of sleep disorders in patients with COPD should address both sleep quality and disordered gas exchange. Non-invasive pressure support is beneficial in selected cases, particularly during acute exacerbations associated with respiratory failure, and is particularly helpful in patients with the overlap syndrome. There is limited evidence of benefit from pressure support in the chronic setting in COPD patients without OSA.     

Pharyngo-laryngeal consequences of gastroesophageal reflux. Value of esophageal pH measurements in 74 patients]

Ambulatory 24 hour oesophageal pH monitoring was performed in order to detect gastro-oesophageal reflux disease (GERD) in 74 patients presenting with poorly explained ear-nose-throat complaints. A significant number of these patients also benefited from other currently used methods for diagnosing GERD. Oesophageal pH-monitoring demonstrated GERD in half of the patients. For atypical GERD, 24 hour oesophageal pH-monitoring seems to be the most sensitive procedure.     

Association of gastroesophageal reflux disease risk with exacerbations of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease

Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) may be a potential risk factor for exacerbations of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). The aim of the present study was to explore the association of GERD risk with exacerbations of COPD. Patients with COPD were consecutively recruited, and COPD Assessment Test (CAT) and Reflux Diagnostic Questionnaire (RDQ) were administered. If the CAT score was 5 points higher than that taken in the stable states, the patient was considered as having exacerbations of COPD. A RDQ score of ≥12 is defined high GERD risk. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses were performed to evaluate the relationship between high GERD risk and exacerbations of COPD. Among 386 patients with COPD, the mean CAT score was 18.3 ± 6.6, and 76 (19.7%) patients had exacerbations during the 1‐year follow‐up. The mean RDQ score was 10.1 ± 4.7, and 132 (34.2%) patients were identified as having high GERD risk. Multivariate logistic regression analyses revealed that the high GERD risk (odds ratio, 2.31; 95% confidence interval, 1.29–3.87) was an independent risk factor of COPD exacerbations. In conclusion, high GERD risk appears to be associated with higher odds for COPD exacerbations.     

High prevalence of proximal and distal gastroesophageal reflux disease in advanced COPD

BACKGROUND: Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) is common in a variety of chronic respiratory diseases, but little is known about GERD in the setting of COPD. The aims of this study were to determine the prevalence, presentation, and predictors of GERD based on proximal and distal esophageal pH monitoring in patients with severe COPD. METHODS: Forty-one COPD patients with a mean FEV1 of 24% of predicted underwent dual-probe 24-h esophageal pH monitoring, and 1 patient underwent esophagogastroduodenoscopy. RESULTS: The prevalence of GERD was 57%. Elevated distal and proximal reflux were present in 41% and 46% of patients undergoing esophageal pH studies, respectively. Fifteen percent of these patients had abnormal proximal reflux despite having normal distal probe results. Most patients with GERD were not receiving acid blockers at the time of their referral, and only one third reported heartburn and/or acid regurgitation during the pH study. Only higher body mass index was predictive of reflux on regression analysis (odds ratio, 1.2; 95% confidence interval, 1.0 to 1.5; p = 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: GERD is common in advanced COPD. Patients are often asymptomatic and have a relatively high prevalence of isolated abnormal proximal reflux. Dual-probe monitoring is therefore well suited for detecting GERD in patients with advanced COPD.     

Study of gastro‐oesophageal reflux disease in patients with mild‐to‐moderate chronic obstructive pulmonary disease in India

Background and objective: To study the incidence and pattern of gastro‐oesophageal reflux disease (GORD) in patients with mild‐to‐moderate chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) using dual‐probe 24‐h oesophageal pH recording. Methods: This was a prospective study of 50 patients with mild‐to‐moderate stage COPD based on the Global Initiative for Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease (GOLD) guidelines. A detailed history of illness along with spirometry was done in all patients. In the study group, reflux symptoms were measured using a validated scoring system. All the patients underwent oesophageal manometry and dual‐probe 24‐h oesophageal pH recording. Results: Symptoms of gastro‐oesophageal reflux were present in 38 patients. Twenty‐four‐hour oesophageal pH monitoring revealed pathological reflux in 31 out of 38 symptomatic and 8 out of 12 asymptomatic patients. The overall rate of GORD was 78% in our study. Only distal GORD was observed in 11 (28.9%), and both distal and proximal GORD was observed in 20 (52.6%) out of the 38 symptomatic subjects. In the remaining 12 asymptomatic patients, eight had GORD. Distal GORD was present in six (50%) patients, and two (16.6%) had both distal and proximal GORD in this group. Isolated proximal GORD was not observed in any patient. Conclusions: There is an increased occurrence of GORD in patients with even mild‐to‐moderate COPD.