GERD Increases Risks for COPD and Asthma, Study Confirms
It has been found in a recent study published in Heliyon that individuals who are genetically predisposed to having gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) have a significantly increased risk of developing chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and asthma. The study was conducted by Shan Lin and fellow researchers in China. This study used genome-wide association data from European cohorts to investigate the potential causal dynamics, offering crucial insights into preventive and therapeutic strategies.
A two-sample bidirectional Mendelian randomization approach was conducted to assess the causal effect of GERD on COPD and asthma risks. The results of this analysis used aggregated European genome-wide association study (GWAS) data. Robust statistical tests undertaken for the estimation of reliability involve the Cochran Q test and the funnel plot and MR-Egger intercept as well as the MR-PRESSO to validate heterogeneity along with pleiotropy. Confirmation of directional causality was tested through Steiger testing. Converse MR estimations were applied to check the hypothesis that the direction of causal effect could emanate from either COPD or from asthma on GERD.
Result
GERD and COPD: Patients with genetic predispositions for GERD had a highly significant increased risk of developing COPD, with an odds ratio (OR) of 1.520 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.376−1.680, P = 2.173 × 10−16).
GERD and Asthma: GERD was also associated with a higher likelihood of asthma, with an OR of 1.420 (95% CI: 1.340−1.504, P = 1.269 × 10−32).
Strong Validity: No heterogeneity and pleiotropy were detected at any test level, and this has strengthened the reliability of the findings.
Reverse Causality: The reverse MR analysis does not suggest that the development of GERD was associated with COPD or asthma.
The results of this study have provided compelling evidence for the causal link between GERD and increased risk of COPD and asthma. The use of Mendelian randomization in the study eliminated some of the biases that plague observational studies, hence providing strong and reliable results.
This study confirms a strong causal relationship between GERD and increased risks of COPD and asthma. The findings suggest the importance of early management of GERD as a preventive measure against chronic respiratory diseases. The integration of GERD treatment into respiratory care protocols may improve the outcomes of the at-risk populations.
Reference:
Lin, S., Lai, D., He, W., & Zhan, Q. (2025). Causal relationship between gastroesophageal reflux disease and chronic obstructive respiratory disease: A bidirectional Mendelian randomization study. Heliyon, 11(2), e42100. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.heliyon.2025.e42100
