MedWire News: Patients with the lung condition chronic obstructive pulmonary disease are more likely to experience acid reflux and other gastrointestinal symptoms than the general population, researchers have found.

Doctors should take the findings into account when treating their lung disease patients, say Dr Anna Niklasson, from Sahlgrenska University Hospital in Göteborg, Sweden, and colleagues.

Explaining the reasons for their study, the researcher write: "Several studies have estimated gastro-oesophageal reflux disease symptoms to occur more often in asthmatic patients than in the general population. In contrast, limited data exist on the prevalence of gastro-oesophageal reflux disease symptoms in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease."

The team studied 113 patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease who were asked to complete four questionnaires designed to assess the prevalence and severity of gastrointestinal symptoms and their mental well-being.

Eighty-two patients with chronic renal failure and 2000 healthy individuals from the general Swedish population were also included in the study for comparison.

Analysis of the results from the questionnaires revealed that patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease suffer from acid reflux and other gastrointestinal symptoms significantly more often, and with more severity, than the general population, but to a similar extent as those with chronic renal failure.

Lung disease patients who suffered from gastrointestinal symptoms also reported significantly lower overall mental well-being than any of the other participants in the study, including those with chronic renal failure.

Dr Niklasson and team conclude: "The prevalence of gastrointestinal symptoms is higher in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease than in healthy individuals... and is associated with impairment in psychological well-being."

They add: "The nature of gastrointestinal symptoms, and their role in quality of life and possible nutritional problems in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, deserves further attention."

The research is published in the European Journal of Gastroenterology and Hepatology.