Upright positive expiratory pressure therapy and exercise: Effects on gastroesophageal reflux in COPD and bronchiectasis

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Patients with COPD and patients with bronchiectasis undertake airway clearance therapy and exercise as part of management, but the effect of these activities on gastroesophageal acid exposure is unknown. This study aimed to determine if positive expiratory pressure (PEP) therapy and standardized exercise tasks were associated with increased gastroesophageal reflux. METHODS: During dual-probe 24 hour esophageal pH monitoring, all participants undertook a single session of PEP therapy, a measure of submaximal exercise capacity (6-min walk test [6MWT]), and a functional upper limb task (grocery shelving task [GST]). The number of reflux episodes and fractional reflux time (reflux in..