Association between salivary secretary function and laryngopharyngeal reflux: a prospective study

Abstract

This study aimed to demonstrate the prevalence and risk factors of laryngopharyngeal reflux (LPR) in patients with xerostomia and to investigate the association between salivary function and LPR. The prevalence of LPR among patients with xerostomia was analyzed and the clinical and salivary gland function were compared between 2 groups; the non-LPR and the LPR groups. The prevalence of LPR was 82.2% in patients with xerostomia. The presence of LPR was correlated with the unstimulated or stimulated salivary flow rate (SFR). LPR did not correlate with scintigraphy findings except time to the minimum count of the parotid gland. Low stimulated SFR and unstimulated SFR were recognized as independent risk factors of LPR. A significant correlation was observed between the Reflux Symptom Index and the xerostomia symptoms score. Furthermore, RFS also correlated with unstimulated and stimulated SFR. This finding supports that salivary secretory function has an impact on LPR.