Abstract
Purpose
Using the Reflux Symptom Index (RSI), this nationwide study aimed to investigate the incidence, diagnostic status, risk factors, and common symptoms of adult laryngopharyngeal reflux disease (LPRD) at otorhinolaryngology-head and neck surgery (OHNS) clinics in China.
Methods
This multicenter cross-sectional survey began at the different institutions ranged from July to October 2017, and the duration was 12 months. A total of 90,440 eligible patients were finally enrolled from 72 medical institutions in China. All these patients completed the questionnaire based on RSI. In this study, LPRD was defined as RSI > 13.
Results
There were 9182 with LPRD among the 90,440 eligible participants (10.15%). However, only 1294 had a history of LPRD diagnosis among those with LPRD (14.09%). There were regional differences in the frequency of LPRD (P < 0.001). The proportions of patients with LPRD in males (vs. females), middle- and old-aged patients (vs. young), with current smoking history (vs. no smoking), and current drinking history (vs. no drinking) were significantly higher (all P < 0.001). Middle and old age, current smoking, and drinking history were independent predictors of LPRD (all P < 0.001, OR 1.240, 1.261, and 1.481, respectively). “Sensations of something stuck in throat or a lump in throat”, “clearing throat”, and “excess throat mucus or postnasal drip” were the most frequent clinical symptoms in patients with LPRD.
Conclusions
LPRD has a high incidence at the OHNS clinics in China. However, the diagnostic status of this disease is not optimistic. Older age, smoking, and drinking history were risk factors for LPRD.
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All authors had access to the final study data and material.
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We gratefully acknowledge all the medical staff and participants involved in the survey.
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SX, JL, HZ, YY, XL, LZ, and QL contributed to the study conception and design. SX, JL, and HZ supervised this research. All authors contributed to the material preparation and data collection. SX, JL, HZ, YY, XL, LZ, QL, JZ, and LZ contributed to the analysis and interpretation of data. SX, JL, HZ, and JZ wrote the first draft of the manuscript. SX, JL, HZ, YY, XL, LZ, QL, JZ, and LZ made critical revision for important intellectual content. All authors read and approved the final manuscript.
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Xiao, S., Li, J., Zheng, H. et al. An epidemiological survey of laryngopharyngeal reflux disease at the otorhinolaryngology-head and neck surgery clinics in China. Eur Arch Otorhinolaryngol 277, 2829–2838 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00405-020-06045-0
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00405-020-06045-0