Role of Reflux Symptom Index and Reflux Finding Score in the Diagnosis and Evaluation of Treatment Outcomes in Patients with Laryngopharyngeal Reflux

Abstract

Introduction: Laryngopharyngeal reflux means reflux of gastric contents into the larynx and pharynx so that mucous membranes of the larynx, pharynx, and other respiratory organs are inflamed causing symptoms like foreign body sensation in the throat, cough, heartburn, difficulty in swallowing and hoarseness. Diagnosis is made by a set of non-specific clinical symptoms, endoscopic laryngeal examination signs, reflux symptom index and reflux finding score.

Aims: To assess the role of reflux symptom index and reflux finding score in diagnosing and assessing the treatment outcomes in patients with laryngopharyngeal reflux.

Methods: A prospective study was conducted among 140 patients presented in Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Nepalgunj Medical College Teaching Hospital, Kohalpur. Patients with signs and symptoms of laryngopharyngeal reflux were assessed using the reflux symptom index and reflux finding score questionnaire. Patient having a reflux symptom index score of ≥13 and reflux finding score of >7 were included in the study. They were treated with proton pump inhibitors for 8 weeks. Then pre and post therapeutic reflux symptom index and reflux finding score were compared.

Results: A total of 140 patients with age range of 18-60 year were included in the study. Most common symptom was foreign body sensation in throat and sign was erythema of arytenoids. Mean reflux symptom index score was 14.79 while mean reflux finding score was 7.51 which was reduced to 8.39 and 4.03 after 8 weeks treatment with proton pump inhibitors.

Conclusion: Reflux symptom index and reflux finding score are valuable tools for diagnosing laryngopharyngeal reflux and assessing the treatment outcomes with proton pump inhibitors. Their use may prevent the unnecessary costs of invasive laboratory studies and imaging and time consuming examinations.