In most cases, this relationship appears to be related to reflex-induced bronchoconstriction.
Additional factors contribute to risk of aspiration in the geriatric population.
The diagnosis is only made if the physician or patient considers it. A careful history, including appropriate questions about GERD, is essential for suspecting this relationship. The guidelines for evaluation and treatment of GERD have been recently reviewed. A recent study has suggested that medical therapy with omeprazole, a proton pump inhibitor, can have a significant effect on controlling asthma when GERD is an aggravating factor. In this study, the presence of regurgitation or excessive proximal GERD were strong predictors of those patients who would respond.