title: Quality of life in laryngopharyngeal reflux patients.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  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.
  
  
  METHODS
  Prospective, open, clinical study.
  
  
  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-BVAS).
  
  
  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-BVAS 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-BVAS 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.
authors.affiliation: ENT Department, Kaunas Medical University Hospital, Kaunas, Lithuania. norai_s@yahoo.com
authors.forename: Nora
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Siupsinskiene
authors.forename: Kestutis
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Adamonis
authors.forename: Robert J
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: Toohill
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D005764:Gastroesophageal Reflux / Q000150:complications* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000523:psychology; D006801:Humans; D007818:Laryngeal Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology / Q000523:psychology*; D008297:Male; D009853:Omeprazole / Q000627:therapeutic use; D010608:Pharyngeal Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology / Q000523:psychology*; D011379:Prognosis; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011788:Quality of Life; D012720:Severity of Illness Index
chemical_list: D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors; D009853:Omeprazole