title: Anticholinergic medication use is associated with globus pharyngeus.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Globus pharyngeus has been linked to salivary hypofunction. We hypothesise that a considerable portion of the globus experienced by patients is due to a drying effect secondary to anticholinergic medication use; this study aimed to determine their association.
  
  
  METHODS
  A cross-sectional study was conducted of 270 patients who presented to a laryngology practice over 6 months. Participants rated globus sensation on a 5-point severity scale, with those scoring 0 considered as controls (non-globus). Participants were excluded if they had a likely cause of globus. Scores were compared with participants' medication lists, co-morbidities, age and gender, and evaluated using multivariate analysis, with significance set at p < 0.05.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Any participant taking at least 2 anticholinergic medications had a 3.52 increased odds (p = 0.02) of experiencing globus. A previous diagnosis of gastroesophageal reflux disease was also significantly associated with globus (p = 0.004), with an odds ratio of 3.75.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  A substantial portion of idiopathic globus may be due to anticholinergic use or reflux. The findings implicate medication use as a risk factor for globus. An awareness of these associations is invaluable for identifying cause and treating globus.
authors: Department of Otorhinolaryngology: Head and Neck Surgery,University of Pennsylvania,Philadelphia,USA.
authors: S
authors: S
authors: Haft
authors: Department of Otorhinolaryngology: Head and Neck Surgery,University of Pennsylvania,Philadelphia,USA.
authors: R M
authors: RM
authors: Carey
authors: Department of Otorhinolaryngology: Head and Neck Surgery,University of Pennsylvania,Philadelphia,USA.
authors: D
authors: D
authors: Farquhar
authors: Department of Otorhinolaryngology: Head and Neck Surgery,University of Pennsylvania,Philadelphia,USA.
authors: N
authors: N
authors: Mirza
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D018680:Cholinergic Antagonists / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003680:Deglutition Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology*; D005260:Female; D005764:Gastroesophageal Reflux / Q000453:epidemiology*; D006801:Humans; D007827:Laryngitis / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010608:Pharyngeal Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology; D012307:Risk Factors
chemical_list: D018680:Cholinergic Antagonists
keywords: Anticholinergics; Drug Side Effects; Globus; Laryngopharyngeal Reflux; Reflux Symptom Index; Sicca