Inflammatory Bowel Disease andGastroesophageal Reflux Disease inAsthmatic Patients: A Cross-sectional Studyof Prevalence and Clinical Association
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Abstract
Introduction: Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) and inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) are chronic
gastrointestinal (GI) conditions that may contribute to respiratory manifestations, including asthma. GERD, in
particular, has been associated with extraesophageal symptoms such as bronchospasm, which may exacerbate or
mimic asthma. Objective: To identify the prevalence of IBD and GERD among patients with Asthma, and to evaluate
the possible clinical associations between asthma and these GI conditions. Materials and Methods: A cross-
sectional study was conducted between July and December 2025 among Saudi male and female patients with
asthma. A minimum sample size of 384 participants was calculated using a prevalence-based formula with a 95%
confidence level and a 5% margin of error. Data were collected using a structured, self-administered electronic
questionnaire reviewed by medical professionals for content validity, and pilot tested on 20 individuals to ensure
clarity. Sections covered sociodemographic details, asthma-related clinical history, GI diagnoses, perceived
associations between GI conditions and asthma, and asthma symptom control, which was assessed using the
2022 GINA Symptom Control Tool. Data entry was performed using Microsoft Excel (Windows 2021), and
statistical analysis was conducted with IBM Statistical Package for Social Sciences Statistics version 25.0,
employing descriptive statistics such as frequencies and percentages. Results: Among participants, 28.0% were
diagnosed with GERD, and 10.7% with ulcerative colitis. A significant correlation was observed between these
GI conditions and asthma control, with individuals diagnosed with GERD more likely to have uncontrolled
asthma (31.8%) compared to those without GERD (18.8%). Furthermore, 52.8% of participants reported
exacerbation of asthma symptoms after consuming heavy meals or lying down, highlighting a strong association
between GERD and asthma symptoms. A smaller percentage (7.1%) had IBD, with an associated increase in
uncontrolled asthma cases among IBD patients.
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