Association Between Height and Laryngopharyngeal Reflux: Analysis Using the 24-Hour Hypopharyngeal-Esophageal Multichannel Intraluminal Impedance-pH Monitoring

Abstract

ObjectiveHeight has the strongest correlation with esophageal length among the external anthropometric indices. Based on the association between laryngopharyngeal reflux (LPR) and the upper esophageal sphincter, this study aimed to investigate the relationship between height and LPR. MethodsRetrospective chart analysis of patients who visited an outpatient clinic with symptoms of LPR and underwent a 24-hour hypopharyngeal-esophageal multichannel intraluminal impedance-pH (24-hr HEMII-pH) monitoring. The study analyzed the relationship between height and LPR by 1) in total of 219 patients 2) in males and females; and 3) in patients under age 60 and over age 60. ResultsThe relationship between height and LPR was analyzed for a total of 219 patients. There was no statistical significance between the number of pharyngeal reflux episodes and the height of subjects. When same analysis was done according to gender, the number of pharyngeal reflux episodes decreased as height increased in males, which was statistically significant, but not in females. Further analysis was done according to age in male and female respectively. In male under age 60, there was statistical significance between the number of pharyngeal reflux episodes and the height of subjects, but not in over age 60. Also, in female under age 60 and over age 60, there was no statistical significance between the number of Pharyngeal reflux episodes and the height of subjects. ConclusionsThis study suggests a correlation between height and pharyngeal reflux events in males and individuals under 60 years old tested with the 24-hr HEMII-pH monitoring.