Impaired Oesophageal Motility and Clearance in Respiratory Disease
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Impaired pharyngo-esophageal motility and clearance of refluxate and/or swallowed boluses in respiratory disease and gastroesophageal reflux disease
IRAS ID
246210
Contact name
Lesley Anne Houghton
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
University of Leeds
Duration of Study in the UK
3 years, 0 months, 1 days
Research summary
Gastroesophageal reflux (GER) is associated with many respiratory disorders. Indeed, reflux can be substantial, reaching the upper regions of the gullet/oesophagus in some patients. Reflux however, is not always accompanied by typical reflux symptoms (heartburn and/or regurgitation) leading many doctors to treat for possible GER anyway.
Reflux reaching the upper oesophagus in particular, leads to concerns that it may aspirate into the lungs and have a causal role to play in respiratory disease. However, while some research supports this, other research does not, suggesting additional factors are involve.
Oesophageal contraction disorders are common in patients with respiratory disease. How these disorders relate to reflux, and its clearance from the oesophagus, and clearance of foods/liquid swallowed is unclear for the majority of respiratory diseases.
Swallowing function can also be disordered in some patients with respiratory disease, which increases the risk for aspiration of food, and possibly reflux into the lungs. Studies however are few.
Our aim therefore, is to expand our knowledge of oesophageal and swallowing abnormalities in respiratory disorders, such as asthma, cystic fibrosis (CF), non-CF bronchiectasis, idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF), non-IPF interstitial lung disease (ILD) and chronic obstructive pulmonary disorder (COPD), compare our findings to patients who have heartburn alone, and to investigate how these abnormalities relate to the severity of reflux.
REC name
Yorkshire & The Humber - Bradford Leeds Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
18/YH/0387
Date of REC Opinion
6 Dec 2018
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion