Association of extraesophageal reflux disease and sinonasal symptoms: prevalence and impact on quality of life.
OBJECTIVE
The purpose of this study was to investigate the prevalence of extraesophageal reflux disease symptoms and their association with sinonasal disorders within a general sample of adults in our community and to determine how these conditions affect perception of general health, sinus-related quality of life (QOL), and perception of reflux and digestive function.


METHODS
A community-dwelling sample of 1,878 adults completed symptom and QOL surveys in a two-stage prospective design: an initial screening questionnaire (n = 1,878) and disease-specific (sinus and reflux/digestion) and general health-related QOL instruments (n = 1,073). Demographic and response data were summarized and analyzed for prevalence and correlations among data sets.


RESULTS
Sinonasal symptoms were reported in 71% of subjects who completed the initial screening questionnaire, and reflux-related symptoms were reported by 59% of respondents. The co-occurrence of sinonasal and reflux symptoms was reported by 45% of respondents. Subjects with both sinonasal and reflux symptoms scored significantly worse on the disease-specific and general physical and mental QOL scales than subjects with only reflux or sinonasal symptoms or no symptoms.


CONCLUSIONS
Symptoms associated with inflammatory sinonasal disorders and gastroesophageal reflux disease are common in the general U.S. adult population and co-occur in the same individuals to a greater degree than can be attributed to chance alone. Co-occurrence was found to be associated with significant declines in both disease-specific and general physical and mental QOL. This finding has implications with regard to pathogenesis and treatment of these disorders.
Pasic
Thomas R
TR
Division of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, Madison, WI 53792-7375, USA.
Palazzi-Churas
Kerrin L
KL
Connor
Nadine P
NP
Cohen
Stacy B
SB
Leverson
Glen E
GE
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D017677:Age Distribution; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D005260:Female; D005764:Gastroesophageal Reflux / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010254:Paranasal Sinus Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology / Q000523:psychology; D015995:Prevalence; D011379:Prognosis; D011788:Quality of Life; D012307:Risk Factors; D017678:Sex Distribution; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014922:Wisconsin / Q000453:epidemiology