Abstract

VILLALPANDO-CARRION, Salvador; URA-HERNANDEZ, José Pablo; RIO-NAVARRO, Blanca Estela del  and  HELLER-ROUASSANT, Solange. Asthma, obesity and gastroesophageal reflux disease association in children. Bol. Med. Hosp. Infant. Mex. [online]. 2009, vol.66, n.2, pp.153-159. ISSN 1665-1146.

Introduction. Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) is highly prevalent in México. GERD may appear as a symptom of asthma, and has been widely associated with obesity; asthma and obesity are also associated. The aim of this study was to determine the frequency of GERD symptoms in obese patients with or without asthma. Methods. This is a longitudinal study in which GERD symptoms were evaluated according to a validated questionnaire in obese patients with or without asthma. Results. Seventy-five patients with an average age of 11.9 ± 2 years were included. Their mean BMI was 26.7 ± 4 kg/m² (zBMI score 3.8 ± 1.7). We found GERD symptoms in 36 patients (48%). Fifty-two percent of the patients also had a diagnosis of asthma; 27 (36%) asthmatic patients showed GERD symptoms and asthma, and only 9 patients (12%) without asthma had GERD symptoms. This is a significant difference (X² =14.6, P <0.05). The odds ratio of having GERD symptoms for obese patients with asthma was 6.75 (IC 95% 2.4-18.6). Conclusion. Asthma and obesity on a concurrent basis increase considerably the risk of developing GERD symptoms in children. Management of patients with simultaneous obesity and asthma is an important challenge for practitioners. New clinical guidelines for a better approach to obese children are needed in view of the imminent epidemiological transition in our country.

Keywords : Asthma; obesity; gastroesophageal reflux; child.