title: Is there evidence to link acid reflux with chronic sinusitis or any nasal symptoms? A review of the evidence.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Acid reflux into the oesophagus, larynx, pharynx or nasopharynx has been suggested as a causal factor in chronic rhino-sinusitis (CRS), which can then be refractory to nasal treatments. The aim of this review was to conclude on the strength of the link between GORD, LPR, nasopharyngeal reflux, nasal symptoms and CRS.
  
  
  METHODS
  Medline and Embase search.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Nineteen papers describing varying studies on CRS, GORD, LPR and PPI therapy were found. Four adult case-controlled studies showed more acid reflux events/symptoms in refractory CRS patients. Paediatric cohort studies showed more reflux events in rhinosinusitis patients than the general paediatric population, but they are not conclusive. Many papers do not use robust CRS diagnostic criteria for inclusion into studies and take no confounding factors into consideration.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The evidence of a link is poor with no good randomised controlled trials available. The few adult studies that show any link between acid reflux and nasal symptoms are small case-controlled studies with moderate levels of potential bias. There is not enough evidence to consider anti-reflux therapy for adult refractory CRS and there is no evidence that acid reflux is a significant causal factor in CRS.
authors.affiliation: ENT Registrar North Western Deanery, Hope Hospital, Salford Royal Foundation NHS Trust, United Kingdom. edflook@yahoo.com
authors.forename: E P
authors.initials: EP
authors.lastname: Flook
authors.forename: B N
authors.initials: BN
authors.lastname: Kumar
mesh_terms: D016022:Case-Control Studies; D015984:Causality; D002908:Chronic Disease; D015897:Comorbidity; D005764:Gastroesophageal Reflux / Q000453:epidemiology*; D006801:Humans; D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; D012852:Sinusitis / Q000453:epidemiology*