Gastroesophageal Reflux, Atopic Dermatitis, and Asthma: Finally Evidence for Causal Links?

• Published in: American journal of respiratory and critical care medicine Vol. 207; no. 2; pp. 117 - 118
• Main Authors: Althoff, Meghan D, Sharma, Sunita
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States American Thoracic Society 15-01-2023
• Subjects: Airway management; Asthma; Asthma - epidemiology; Asthma - etiology; Causality; Comorbidity; Dermatitis; Dermatitis, Atopic - complications; Gastroesophageal reflux; Gastroesophageal Reflux - complications; Health risks; Humans; Mendelian Randomization Analysis; Pathophysiology; Risk factors
• ISSN: 1073-449X; 1535-4970
• DOI: 10.1164/rccm.202210-1953ED

Asthma and gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) are both widespread ailments with high comorbidity rates, and there has long been evidence linking the two illnesses causally. However, despite epidemiological connections, causal mechanisms have not yet been proven. According on research population and size, estimates of the co-occurrence of these disorders vary greatly, but GERD is generally more common in people with asthma than in the general population. The coexistence of GERD and asthma has been associated with a higher risk of exacerbations and a lower quality of life due to asthma (5), making it a significant risk factor that may be subject to modification in the management of asthma. Although there is a clear epidemiological link between GERD and asthma, there is disagreement in the results of randomized control trials looking at how treating GERD with proton pump inhibitors affects those who also have asthma.