DOI: 10.36347/sjams.2018.v06i03.054

Pages: 1073-1077

GERD can be the primary cause of, or an aggravating contributor to a wide variety of conditions affecting extra esophageal structures. Many pulmonary disorders have been linked to GERD including aspiration pneumonia, interstitial fibrosis, and chronic bronchitis. This study was done to examine the correlation between respiratory disorders and endoscopic findings in patients with gastro esophageal reflux disease. The objective of the study was to determine whether patients with GERD can have asymptomatic respiratory disorder. 100 patients with Gastro-intestinal symptoms and upper GI endoscopy suggestive of GERD were included from a tertiary care teaching hospital. Spirometry was assessed in all patients. Patients suffered from upper GI symptoms in the form of heart burn, nausea and dysphagia. A total of 37 patients had abnormal PFT and the gender difference was statistically insignificant (Male: 27, Female: 10). It was observed in those patients with abnormal PFT, there were 4 (10.8%) patients with normal endoscopy study, 28 (75.7%) patients with mild oesophagitis and 5 (13.5%) patients with moderate oesophagitis. This study also indicates that, as the severity of GERD increases, the severity of pulmonary disorder increases. (P value<0.01)(S). the study confirms the strong link between gastro-esophageal reflux disease and various respiratory disorders. GERD can be associated with asymptomatic respiratory dysfunction. Hence GERD proven individual with long standing symptoms of GERD should undergo Pulmonary Function Test evaluation even though they are not having respiratory symptoms.