Laryngopharyngeal reflux highly High prevalent among patients experiencing persistent hoarseness of voice, reveals study

For this purpose, the researchers conducted a cross-sectional study at a tertiary care hospital, including patients with a history of voice change for more than three weeks. The patients were divided into four groups based on the level of voice use.

Patients were asked to fill Koufmann Reflux Symptom Index questionnaire followed by a video laryngoscopy. The findings were plotted according to the Reflux Finding Score. The impact of LPRD in patients with voice disorders was analysed based on the scoring.

The key findings of the study were as follows:

· Among the 90 study participants, 82.2% were found to have LPRD. The mean age was 42.76 ± 10.33 years.

· Majority (43.2%) belong to the age group of 41–50 years, with female predominance (70.3%).

· Majority (41.9%) of them were level IV voice users.

· 59.5% were positive Koufman reflex symptom index, and 67.6% were positive Reflex finding score.

· Hoarseness (58.1%) was the most common symptom.

The findings have brought to light a high prevalence of laryngopharyngeal reflux disease in patients experiencing persistent voice disorders.

"Simple and highly reproducible scores like Reflux Finding Score and Reflux Symptom Index have proven useful and valuable tools in LPRD diagnosis, thereby aiding in early diagnosis and prompt management and improving the patient’s quality of life," the researchers wrote.

Reference:

Padmanabhan, K., Ravichandran, K. & Sivanand, N. Impact of Laryngopharyngeal Reflux in Patients with Voice Disorders. Indian J Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg (2024). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12070-024-04541-x