Relationship between extralaryngeal endoscopic findings, proton pump inhibitor (PPI) response, and pH measures in suspected laryngopharyngeal reflux

Laryngopharyngeal reflux (LPR) is a clinical entity diagnosed by history laryngoscopic findings that has a variable response to empiric proton-pump inhibitor (PPI) therapy. While the reflux finding score (RFS), an endoscopic scoring scheme, has been advanced as a measure of LPR, it has not been externally validated against symptom severity in practice. Extralaryngeal pharyngeal endoscopic findings may have diagnostic utility but remain underexplored. This study assesses the correlation between extralaryngeal findings and (1) 24-hour oropharyngeal pH & (2) PPI response in patients with suspected LPR. Subjects presented to a tertiary care center with laryngeal symptoms ≥1 month and reflux symptom index (RSI) ≥13. Following baseline questionnaires, laryngoscopy, and a 24-hour oropharyngeal pH probe study, subjects were prescribed 8-12 week omeprazole trials. Baseline endoscopic findings were scored in a blinded fashion using the RFS and extralaryngeal score criteria, summatively the 'ELS.' PPI response was defined as ≥50% improvement in RSI. Thirty-three subjects with flexible endoscopic recordings completed baseline and follow-up questionnaires. The cohort's baseline mean RSI was 23.0 ± 7.2 with a ΔRSI = 9.8 after PPI therapy. The baseline RFS score averaged 5.3 ± 2.7. 45% of our subjects was found to be PPI responsive. The Cohen's kappa for the ELS but not the RFS was significant. There were no significant differences between the RFS (P = 0.10) or ELS (P = 0.07) for PPI responders & nonresponders. Oropharyngeal pH measures did not correlate with the RFS or ELS. In conclusion, endoscopic scores of laryngeal and extralaryngeal findings did not predict PPI response or oropharyngeal acid exposure in suspected LPR.

Nasal and sinus symptoms and chronic rhinosinusitis in a population-based sample

BACKGROUND

The objective of this study was to describe the first US-based study to use the European Position Paper on Rhinosinusitis (EPOS) criteria to study the prevalence of chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS) in a general-population sample.

METHODS

A CRS symptom questionnaire was mailed to 23 700 primary care patients from Geisinger Clinic, a health system serving 45 counties in Pennsylvania. CRS cases were categorized into four unique subgroups based on EPOS symptoms: obstruction and discharge with no smell loss or pain/pressure; smell loss without pain/pressure; facial pain and/or pressure without smell loss; and both smell loss and pain/pressure. All cases were required to have nasal obstruction or discharge. Logistic regression was used to evaluate potential factors associated with CRS subgroups.

RESULTS

We found that 11.9% of patients met criteria for CRS. Prevalence peaked at 15.9% between ages 50 and 59 years and then dropped to 6.8% after age 69. The odds of CRS was higher among patients who were white, younger, smokers, had a history of Medical Assistance, and had other diseases. When CRS subgroups were modeled separately, these associations were no longer significant for some CRS subgroups. Comorbid diseases were most strongly associated with CRS cases who reported smell loss and facial pain and/or pressure and had the weakest associations with CRS cases who did not report these symptoms.

CONCLUSIONS

CRS is a highly prevalent and heterogeneous condition. Differences in risk factors and health outcomes across symptom subgroups may be indicative of differences in etiology that have implications for disease management.