The Prevalence of Gastro-oesophageal Reflux in Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease and Bronchiectasis and the Effects of Medications, Physiotherapy Airway Clearance Techniques and Exercise on Gastro-oesophageal Function.

Research plan:

Fifty-four subjects will be recruited from the Department of AIRMED outpatient clinics at the Alfred Hospital, Melbourne. Subjects will be considered eligible if they have a diagnosis of COPD or bronchiectasis and are clinically stable.

Subjects who give their consent will undergo the following measures:

1. Demographic data including age, gender, BMI, prescribed medications at time of study.
2. Structured symptom questionnaire A reliable, valid structured symptom questionnaire which will assess symptomatic GOR.
3. Health -related quality of life and sleep quality Quality of life will be recorded using a Short form-36, St Georges's Respiratory Questionnaire and Quality of Life in Reflux and Dyspepsia questionnaire.
4. Dual-channel 24 hour oesophageal pH monitoring

Ambulatory 24 hour oesophageal pH monitoring will be undertaken by all subjects using dual-channel oesophageal pH monitoring equipment. The distal antimony-tipped probe will be sited 5cm above the upper portion of the lower oesophageal sphincter (distal sensor) with the proximal sensor sited 15cm above the distal sensor. The probe is attached to the digitrapper and will record oesophageal pH for 24 hours. The subject will be instructed to activate the digitrapper's three event buttons recording start and finish time of meals, supine versus upright posture and GOR symptoms. The following indices will be measured in the distal and proximal oesophagus: