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Autoimmune disease as a risk factor for globus pharyngeus: a cross‐sectional epidemiological study
Author(s) -
Masterson L.M.,
Srouji I.A.,
Musonda P.,
Scott D.G.I.
Publication year - 2011
Publication title -
clinical otolaryngology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.914
H-Index - 68
eISSN - 1749-4486
pISSN - 1749-4478
DOI - 10.1111/j.1749-4486.2010.02243.x
Subject(s) - medicine , rheumatology , population , epidemiology , disease , rheumatoid arthritis , rheumatoid factor , cross sectional study , depression (economics) , hospital anxiety and depression scale , anxiety , physical therapy , pathology , psychiatry , environmental health , economics , macroeconomics
Clin. Otolaryngol. 2011, 36 , 24–29 Objective: To assess the prevalence and severity of globus‐type symptoms in individuals who have a prior diagnosis of autoimmune disease. Design: Cross‐sectional questionnaire. Participants and setting: One hundred and nine patients with autoimmune disease (rheumatoid arthritis, seronegative spondarthritis, connective tissue disease, systemic vasculitis) and 41 patients with non‐autoimmune disease (osteoarthritis/osteoporosis) attending a rheumatology tertiary referral clinic at Norfolk & Norwich University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust. The results from this study were compared to previous published figures in patients with globus pharyngeus ( n = 105) and normal population ( n = 174). Main outcome measures: Glasgow Edinburgh Throat Scale questionnaire; Reflux Symptom Index; Anxiety/Depression Scale. Results: Patients with autoimmune disease demonstrate a significantly higher prevalence for 5/10 symptoms on the Glasgow Edinburgh Throat scale score when compared to the non‐autoimmune control group ( P ≤ 0.01). This significant difference increases to 9/10 symptoms when compared to published results for the normal population ( P = 0.01). No significant difference was found when comparing the autoimmune and non‐autoimmune control group reflux symptom index ( P = 0.64) or anxiety depression scale ( P = 0.71). Conclusion: Patients with autoimmune disease have a significantly increased prevalence of globus symptoms when compared to the healthy population. A further prospective study is required to decipher the effect of pharmacotherapy as a possible causative factor.