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Abstract

OBJECTIVE: To estimate the frequency of Gastro-Esophageal reflux symptoms in asthmatic patients.Design: A prospective questionnaire based study.Place and Duration of study: Jinnah Post Graduate Medical Center, Karachi (Pulmonology Department) from June 1999 to June 2000.Subjects and Methods: Symptoms related to gastro-esophageal reflux were compared between two groups of which one group asthmatic while the second group was healthy volunteers. The first group comprised of 103 asthmatic patients and second, a control group consisted of 100 healthy individuals visiting out patient clinic as attendant. Both were interviewed about their reflux symptoms and surveyed with same questionnaire. The diagnosis was made on Spirometry in all asthmatic patients who showed an increase in FEV1 of at least 15% after bronchodilator, and a clinical picture consistent with the diagnosis ofasthma.Results: Among the asthmatics 73.8% experienced retro-sternal burning, 59.2% regurgitation, 49.5% belching and 91.3% cough, while in control group similar symptoms were experienced by 35%, 30%, 29%, and 22% respectively.Conclusion: The questionnaire demonstrated a greater prevalence of Gastro-Esophageal Reflux symptoms in asthmatics as compared to the Control group.