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Gastro-oesophageal reflux disease (GORD) is a common condition that is known to have several extraintestinal impacts, including effects in the lung. Observational studies have found associations between GORD and asthma,1 lung cancer,2 respiratory infection,3 exacerbations of lung disease,4 5 and bronchiectasis.6 However, a causal relationship between GORD and lung disease has not been conclusively established. This link has been particularly contentious in idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF), where epidemiological studies and systematic reviews have suggested that GORD is associated with poor outcomes7–9, and that antiacid treatment may improve survival.10 11 However, other studies have contradicted these findings,12–17 and the overwhelming conclusion is that further work is needed in this area.