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 (χ 2 = 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.