Quality of life in patients with laryngopharyngeal reflux.
BACKGROUND
Laryngopharyngeal reflux (LPR) disease is an extraesophageal manifestation of gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). The impact of GERD-related LPR on the psychological well-being and quality of life (QOL) in Chinese is not known.


OBJECTIVE
To assess the QOL in patients with LPR disease.


METHODS
76 LPR and 73 healthy subjects were recruited. Psychological well-being was assessed by the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Score and QOL was assessed by SF-36.


RESULTS
51/76 (67.1%) patients had GERD-related LPR. More LPR subjects had taken sick leave (36.2 vs. 5.6%, p = 0.001) and reported adverse social life impact (60.5 vs. 38.9%, p = 0.013). LPR patients showed significantly worse results on the Voice Handicap Index (47.8 vs. 7.6, p = 0.001), were more anxious and had worse QOL in social functioning, pain and general health perception domains of SF-36. GERD-related LPR subjects had a higher depression score (4.8 vs. 3.8, p = 0.014) and a lower mental summary score (41.8 vs. 48.4, p = 0.01) in SF-36 compared with those without GERD.


CONCLUSIONS
LPR had a negative impact on psychological status, social functioning and QOL. GERD symptoms appeared to be the main contributor to decrease QOL. GERD-related LPR patients had a significant impact on the mental component of their QOL.
Cheung
Ting Kin
TK
Department of Medicine, University of Hong Kong, SAR, China.
Lam
Paul K Y
PK
Wei
William Ignace
WI
Wong
Wai Man
WM
Ng
Manwa L
ML
Gu
Qing
Q
Hung
Ivan F
IF
Wong
Benjamin C Y
BC
D000328:Adult; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D002681:China; D005260:Female; D005764:Gastroesophageal Reflux / Q000523:psychology*; D006801:Humans; D007818:Laryngeal Diseases / Q000523:psychology*; D007828:Laryngoscopy; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010608:Pharyngeal Diseases / Q000523:psychology*; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D011788:Quality of Life; D012307:Risk Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires