The relationship of gastroesophageal reflux with asthma quality of life and asthma control test in asthmatic patients

Aim: In this study we aimed to investigate the relationship of gastroesophageal reflux with Asthma Quality of Life (AQLQ) and Asthma Control Test (ACT) in asthmatic patients. Method: Between September- October 2010, total 50 patients fallowed with a diagnosis of asthma at outpatient clinic of Cerrahpasa Medical School Chest Diseases department were enrolled in this study. Patients' reflux symptoms in last one month were irrogated by using “Reflux Symptom Index” that consisting of 9 questions and graded from 0 to 5 (0: none; 1: very little, 2: low, 3: moderate, 4: severe, 5: very severe). ACT and AQLQ questionnaires were filled. Statistical analysis was done by sing SPSS 15.0 software. Results: 34 patients (68%) were female and 16 (32%) were male, mean age was 42±14. The number of patients suffering from reflux was 23 (46%). The statistically very very significant negative correlation was found between gastroesophageal reflux and AQLQ (r:-0.551; p<0.005). Between the presence of gastroesophageal reflux and ACT, the statistically significant negative correlation was found (r: -0.314;p<0.05) (Table 1). Table 1. The relationship of gastroesophageal reflux with ACT and AQLQ Reflux ACT FEV% AQLQ r: -0,551; p: 0,000*** r: 0,667; p: 0,000*** r: 0,127; p: 0,380 Symptoms r: -0,542; p: 0,000*** r: 0,686; p: 0,000*** r: 0,155; p: 0,283 Activity restriction r: -0,431; p: 0,002** r: 0,527; p: 0,000*** r: 0,160; p: 0,267 Emotional function r: -0,471; p: 0,001*** r: 0,672; p: 0,000*** r: -0,028; p: 0,845 Environmental factors r: -0,361; p: 0,010* r: 0,238; p: 0,096 r: 0,063; p: 0,664 ACT r: -0,314; p: 0,026* ***p<0.001, **p<0.005, *p<0.05. Conclusion: In our study, the presence of gastroesophageal reflux was found to decrease the quality of life and Asthma Control Test score in asthmatic patients.