1.   These results clearly show that hiatal hernia is associated with more severe oesophageal mucosal disease in asthmatics.

2.   This study is the first to report the prevalence of oesophageal mucosal disease in unselected asthmatics.

3.   Few data are available on either the prevalence of oesophageal mucosal disease in asthmatics or the effect of bronchodilator therapy on the oesophageal mucosa.

4.   Thus, hiatal hernia in asthmatics is associated with more severe oesophageal mucosal disease.

5.   The chronic use of bronchodilator therapy does not seem to influence adversely the oesophageal mucosal disease.

6.   One specimen from each patient was examined histologically to exclude mucosal disease, notably microadenoma in familial adenomatous polyposis.