Real-world effect of gastroesophageal reflux disease on cough-related quality of life and disease status in asthma and COPD

Background: Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) is one of the most common causes of chronic cough and often coexists with asthma or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD); however, it is unknown whether there are differences in the effect of GERD on these diseases. The purpose of this study was to assess the difference in the effect of GERD on cough-related quality of life and disease status in asthma and COPD in a real-world setting. Methods: Subjects were 132 patients with overall controlled asthma and 102 patients with stable COPD. They completed the frequency scale for symptoms of GERD (FSSG), a validated Japanese questionnaire for GERD, the Leicester Cough Questionnaire (LCQ), and the Asthma Control Test (ACT) or COPD assessment test (CAT) questionnaires. Results: We found that 29 (22.0%) patients with asthma and 22 (21.6%) patients with COPD had GERD. There was no difference in the FSSG scale between the diseases. The patients with GERD, regardless of having asthma or COPD, had lower LCQ scores affecting all health domains and lower ACT or higher CAT scores than those without GERD. Overall, the patients with COPD had lower LCQ scores regardless of the presence or absence of GERD. The FSSG scale was negatively correlated with the LCQ total score in asthma and in COPD. In contrast, the FSSG scale was positively correlated with the CAT score but not with the ACT score. Conclusions: Patients with GERD had impaired cough-related quality of life, poor asthma control or more symptoms and impacts of COPD