Age and ageing
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An effect of gastro-oesophageal reflux disease (GORD) on respiratory function was studied in elderly patients. Twenty-seven patients with, and 29 patients without, abnormal gastro-oesophageal reflux (GOR) in 24-hour pH monitoring were included in the study. Symptoms suggestive of gastrooesophageal reflux disease were recorded and spirometry was performed in all the patients. ⋯ Thirty-two per cent of patients with slight and 73% of patients with moderate or severe reflux in pH monitoring had abnormal VC%, FVC%, or FEV1% (less than 80% of predicted value) at spirometry (vs 30% of patients without reflux, p = 0.039). When patients were divided according to their symptoms suggestive of GORD, lower VC%, FVC%, and FEV1% were found in patients with than in those without symptoms (87 vs 102, p = 0.0018; 76 vs 91, p = 0.0099; 80 vs 93, p = 0.0026). In conclusion, mainly a restrictive ventilatory defect was associated with GORD in elderly patients.