The prevalence of gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) and laryngopharyngeal reflux disease as reason behind chronic cough ranges from 0% to 73%.

According to some studies, GERD affects up to 25% of persons with chronic cough, while other study claims that GERD affects up to 40% of people with chronic cough and is caused by the retropulsion of acidic contents from the stomach into the pharynx and larynx.

This causes laryngeal receptor irritation and episodic microaspiration and is frequently accompanied with a cough that is worsen in the evenings, when the patient is resting flat, allowing for easier stomach reflux.

GERD occurs in approximately 20% of Americans, and chronic cough is a very common problem, which patients with GERD are not immune to developing. Due to the baseline GERD rate of 20%, it is difficult to separate the presence of the disorder from the causative effect of the disorder.^1,2