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Quality of Life in Laryngopharyngeal Reflux Patients
Author(s) -
Siupsinskiene Nora,
Adamonis Kestutis,
Toohill Robert J.
Publication year - 2007
Publication title -
the laryngoscope
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.181
H-Index - 148
eISSN - 1531-4995
pISSN - 0023-852X
DOI - 10.1097/mlg.0b013e31802d83cf
Subject(s) - medicine , laryngopharyngeal reflux , omeprazole , quality of life (healthcare) , gastroenterology , anxiety , prospective cohort study , endoscopy , depression (economics) , reflux , physical therapy , disease , psychiatry , nursing , economics , macroeconomics
Objectives: To evaluate and compare quality of life (QL) parameters in patients with laryngopharyngeal reflux (LPR) versus healthy controls, to determine the impact of clinical signs to QL, and to assess changes in QL parameters after treatment. Study Design: Prospective, open, clinical study. Material and Methods: One hundred outpatients with LPR and 109 healthy voice controls were enrolled. LPR patients underwent endoscopy and received omeprazole for 3 months. Results of endoscopy revealed 79 patients without esophagitis and 21 with, giving two subgroups of LPR patients. QL was evaluated using voice handicap index (VHI), hospital anxiety and depression scale, disability in social activities, and well‐being in general (W‐B VAS ). Results: The mean scores for total VHI and functional, physical, and emotional functioning domain subscales were found to be significantly higher in LPR patients versus controls ( P < .0001), with no difference among LPR subgroups. Abnormal anxiety was one third in both LPR subgroups versus 6.4% of controls ( P < .001). Both LPR subgroups patients had significantly reduced social activities and significantly lower mean W‐B VAS score than controls. LPR symptoms had a significant relation with all tested QL parameters, whereas laryngoscopic findings had a significant relation with VHI and W‐B VAS only. All mean QL parameters scores improved after 3‐month omeprazole treatment. Conclusions: QL in LPR patients with or without esophagitis is impaired significantly in many aspects. Impairment of QL is more associated with symptoms than laryngoscopic findings. Treatment with omeprazole significantly improved QL in both LPR subgroups patients.