Gastroesophageal reflux disease in patients with diabetes: preliminary study

Disease related changes in vocal parameters of patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus

BACKGROUND

As the duration of diabetes progresses, various disease related complications might occur in patients. The main goal of this paper is to compare acoustic and aerodynamic measures of patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) with a control group of healthy subjects.

METHODS

A total of 91 subjects, 51 individuals with type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM group) and 40 healthy volunteers (HV group) were participated in the study. Maximum phonation time (MPT) was captured for assessing phonatory mechanics. Acoustic voice parameters, including mean fundamental frequency (mean fo), jitter local (Jlocal), jitter absolute (Jabs), shimmer local (Slocal), shimmer decibel (SdB), and harmonics to noise ratio (HNR) were detected using the Praat software program.

RESULTS

Only for Jabs, statically significant difference was found between the groups. There were no statically significant differences between any voice parameters of HV versus those with the duration of diabetes ≥10 years and the HbA1c level ≥7%. However, statically significant differences for MPT and Slocal were found between patients with neuropathy versus HV. In addition, a comparison between patients with voice complaint versus HV showed significant differences for Slocal and SdB.

CONCLUSIONS

The findings of the present study do not provide strong evidence about the possible effect of DM on the human voice. However, diabetic neuropathy is considered to be a factor affecting the voice parameters in the target population. The physicians should pay attention to the acoustic and aerodynamic voice parameters in patients with diabetes, particularly in those with neuropathy or voice complaints.

Association between laryngopharyngeal reflux disease and autonomic nerve dysfunction

PURPOSE

To assess autonomic nerve function in patients with laryngopharyngeal reflux disease (LPRD) and determine the correlation between LPRD and autonomic nerve dysfunction.

METHODS

Patients with suspected LPRD who visited our outpatient department were assessed using the reflux symptom index (RSI) and reflux finding score (RFS) scales. Eighty-one suspected LPRD patients with RSI > 13 and RFS > 7 were examined using 5-min short-range heart rate variability, and all were given proton pump inhibitor diagnostic treatment.

RESULTS

The root mean square of successive R-R intervals, high-frequency (HF) power, standardized HF, and HF % were significantly lower in the case group than in the control group (p < 0.05); however, the low frequency (LF)/HF ratio was significantly higher in the case group (p < 0.05). There were no significant differences in the standard deviation of the average normal-to-normal interval, total power, LF power, and LF % between the two groups (p > 0.05). RSI, RFS, and disease duration were negatively correlated with HF power (r = - 0.89, -0.77, and -0.315, respectively; p < 0.05). The LF/HF ratio and disease duration were positively correlated (r = 0.315, p < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

Autonomic nerve dysfunction was observed in our patients with LPRD. LPRD severity was significantly correlated with autonomic nerve dysfunction and negatively correlated with vagal nerve function.

Prevalence and Correlates of Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease in Southern Iran: Pars Cohort Study

BACKGROUND

Prevalence of gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) is increasing worldwide. We aimed to estimate the prevalence of GERD in Pars Cohort Study (PCS) and to find its correlates.

METHODS

We used the baseline data from PCS. PCS was conducted in the district of Valashahr in Fars province in southern Iran from 2012 to 2014. 9264 inhabitants who were 40-75 years old, and agreed to participate were enrolled. Data were collected by a structured questionnaire and simple physical examination of all participants.

RESULTS

Generally, 58.50% (95% CI 57.49 - 59.51) of the participants had GERD and 25.10% (95% CI 24.22 - 25.99) experienced it at least weekly. Approximately, 32.0%, 52.0%, and 24.4% of the participants reported heart burn sensation, regurgitation, and both symptoms, respectively. Being female (OR: 1.45, 95% CI 1.27 - 1.65), being older (OR: 1.20, 95% CI 1.06 - 1.36), being divorced/ widowed/separated (OR: 1.38, 95% CI 1.01 - 1.91), and lower education (OR: 1.43, 95% CI 1.02 - 2.03) were associated with frequent GERD.

CONCLUSION

GERD is common in PCS and its prevalence is close to that in western countries. Being female, higher age, being divorced/widowed/separated, lower education, history of hypertension, anxiety, insomnia, and non-cigarette tobacco smoking were associated with frequent GERD. We are going to investigate the causal relationship between these risk factors and GERD in the next stages of PCS.