Investigation of the potential relationship between gastroesophageal reflux disease and laryngopharyngeal reflux disease in symptomatology – a prospective study based on a multidisciplinary outpatient

Abstract

Objective

To investigate the relationship between laryngopharyngeal reflux disease (LPRD) and gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD).

Methods

Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease Questionnaire (GERD-Q) and Reflux Symptom Index (RSI) scale were administered to patients attending the gastroenterology outpatient clinic at the Sixth Medical Center of the PLA General Hospital from 7 April 2021 to 10 June 2021. Patients with GERD-Q score >7 were indicated GERD, and patients with RSI >13 were indicated LPRD. The analysis of patients with pure GERD (independent GERD, iG), patients with LPRD and GERD (LPRD & GERD, L&G), patients with simple LPRD (independent LPRD, iL) and the percentage of normal group (GERDQ-negative and RSI-negative, N).

Results

3060 GERD-Q and RSI questionnaires were distributed, and 2974 complete questionnaires were returned. Among them, 274 (9.20%) iL, 334 (11.23%) iG and 151 (5.10%) L&G patients and 2215 (74.48%) N patients. The positive rate of GERD in this sample was 16.31%, of which 31.13% had coexisting LPRD, and the positive rate of LPRD was 14.29%, of which 35.53% had coexisting GERD. Among patients with LPRD, the positive rate of concomitant GERD (χ² = 4.157, p = 0.041) and RSI score (Z = −6.823, p = 0.000) was significantly higher in patients with the presence of respiratory symptoms than in those without respiratory symptoms.

Conclusion

LPRD can exist alone or in conjunction with GERD. Patients with both LPRD and GERD had the most severe reflux symptoms. The need to focus on the risk of those initially screened only with GERD developing LPRD. Respiratory symptoms play an important role in reflux disease.

Keywords:

• Laryngopharyngeal reflux
• gastroesophageal reflux
• cough
• respiratory symptoms
• relationship

Ethical approval

The Sixth Medical Center of PLA General Hospital of Beijing Review Board with approval reference number HZQX‑PJ‑2019‑7 approved this study. Written informed consent was obtained from patients who met inclusion criteria before study enrollment.

Authors’ contributions

Xiaoyu Wang, Zhi Liu and Jinrang Li were involved in idea conception and project supervision; Jinhong Zhang, Chun Zhang, Jing Zhao, Lianlian Liu, Shizhen Zou and Xin Ma were involved in study design, informed consent and data collection. Xiaoyu Wang and Jinrang Li were involved in manuscript writing. Xiaoyu Wang, Jinhong Zhang and Jinrang Li were involved in statistical analysis and data representation. All authors read, critiqued and agreed with the final manuscript with submission to Digestive Diseases.

Disclosure statement

The authors have no conflict of interest to declare.

Additional information

Funding

No source of funding was used for this project.