title: Autoimmune disease as a risk factor for globus pharyngeus: a cross-sectional epidemiological study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To assess the prevalence and severity of globus-type symptoms in individuals who have a prior diagnosis of autoimmune disease.
  
  
  METHODS
  Cross-sectional questionnaire.
  
  
  METHODS
  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).
  
  
  METHODS
  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).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  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.
authors.affiliation: Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Cambridge, UK. lmm398@doctors.org.uk
authors.forename: L M
authors.initials: LM
authors.lastname: Masterson
authors.forename: I A
authors.initials: IA
authors.lastname: Srouji
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Musonda
authors.forename: D G I
authors.initials: DG
authors.lastname: Scott
mesh_terms: D001327:Autoimmune Diseases / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology*; D003291:Conversion Disorder / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology / Q000276:immunology*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010608:Pharyngeal Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology / Q000276:immunology*; D015995:Prevalence; D012307:Risk Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D006113:United Kingdom / Q000453:epidemiology