Impact of risk factors in developing bronchial asthma combined with gastroesophageal reflux disease in children

The purpose of the study was to determine the risk factors affecting the development of asthma combined with gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). Seventy children aged 5-17 years with asthma were examined. They were divided to two groups: group 1 (50 children with asthma and GERD), and group 2 (20 children with isolated asthma). Medical history data were collected through specially designed questionnaire for parents. It was determined that the perinatal risk factors that likely contributed to developing co-morbid asthma and GERD were a threatened miscarriage (OR=6.65; 95% CI, 1.7-25.6, p=0.003), acute respiratory illnesses during pregnancy (OR=6.52; 95% CI, 1.4-31.2, p=0.008), polyhydramnios (p=0.039) and uterine inertia (p=0.0003). Food hypersensitivity in the first year of life, the severity of asthma in examined children played role in increasing the risk of developing asthma combined with GERD (OR=4.83; 95% CI, 1.3-18.6, p=0.013 and OR=4.45; 95% CI, 1.2-17.1, р=0.019 respectively).