Development and Validation of the Short Version of the Reflux Symptom Score: Reflux Symptom Score-12.

OBJECTIVE: To develop and validate a short version of the Reflux Symptom Score-the 12-question Reflux Symptom Score-12 (RSS-12)-for patients with laryngopharyngeal reflux disease (LPR). STUDY DESIGN: Prospective study. SETTING: Multicenter academic hospitals. METHODS: Patients with LPR diagnosed via multichannel intraluminal impedance pH monitoring were enrolled from 3 European hospitals. Healthy individuals completed the study. Individuals completed the Reflux Symptom Score, Reflux Symptom Index (RSI), and Voice Handicap Index (VHI) at baseline and 3 months posttreatment. The Reflux Symptom Score was completed twice within a 7-day period to assess test-retest reliability. Cronbach's α was used for assessing internal consistency. The RSS-12 was developed and validity assessed through a comparison of the RSS-12, RSI, and VHI. Responsiveness to change was evaluated through the pre- to posttreatment evolution of the RSS-12 total score. Receiver operating characteristic analysis was used to determine the RSS-12 threshold that is suggestive of LPR. RESULTS: The RSS-12 was characterized by high test-retest reliability (rs = 0.956) and adequate internal consistency reliability (α = 0.739). The RSS-12 was significantly correlated with the RSI (rs = 0.845), suggesting high external validity. The RSS-12 total and item scores were significantly higher in patients with LPR as compared with healthy individuals (P = .001), supporting high internal validity. RSS-12, VHI, and RSI significantly improved throughout treatment. Regarding the receiver operating characteristic curve, an RSS-12 score >11 is suggestive of LPR, exhibiting a sensitivity of 94.5% and a specificity of 86.2%. CONCLUSION: The RSS-12 is a shorter, reliable, and valid self-administered patient-reported outcome measure questionnaire that can be used in the outpatient setting to suggest and monitor LPR.

The effect of obstructive sleep apnea surgery on laryngopharyngeal reflux with obstructive sleep apnea.

Background: Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) may play a role in the occurrence of laryngopharyngeal reflux (LPR). OSA surgery also may have a significant curative effect on LPR with OSA.Objectives: To analyze the role of OSA in LPR and the effect of OSA surgery on LPR with OSA.Methods: Forty-five OSA patients with LPR symptoms were enrolled and were divided into the LPR positive group (RSI > 13) and the LPR suspicious group (1 ≤ RSI ≤ 13) based on reflux symptom index (RSI). All the patients underwent OSA surgery. The RSI scores at three different time points postoperatively were compared with that preoperatively.Results: In the LPR positive and LPR suspicious group, the result revealed that there were significant differences in RSI score between one month, three months, six months after surgery and before surgery (p < .001 for all). Moreover, in the LPR positive group, there was a significant difference in RSI score among one month, three months and six months after surgery (p = .01).Conclusions and significance: The effect of OSA on LPR exists and OSA surgery can improve the symptoms of LPR with OSA obviously. For some LPR patients with OSA, the combination therapy of OSA and LPR is needed.

Different cutoffs of the reflux finding score for diagnosing laryngopharyngeal reflux disease should be used for different genders.

OBJECTIVES: To assess the differences in Reflux Finding Score (RFS) between the genders and determine the suitable RFS threshold for diagnosing laryngopharyngeal reflux disease (LPRD) in each gender. METHODS: Asymptomatic volunteers and patients with LPRD, confirmed with an oropharyngeal Dx-pH monitoring system, were included. All study subjects underwent transnasal flexible fiber-optic video laryngoscopy. Reliability was assessed with intra-class correlation coefficients (ICCs) and Bland-Altman plots. The RFS cutoffs for determining the presence and absence of LPRD between the two genders were examined by receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis. RESULTS: One hundred seven asymptomatic volunteers and fifty-five LPRD patients were recruited. The mean RFS for LPRD subjects (9.4 ± 3.2) was significantly higher than that for control subjects (7.1 ± 2.6; p < 0.001). The mean RFS for asymptomatic females (6.1 ± 2.7) was significantly lower than that for males (7.7 ± 2.5; p < 0.001). The mean RFS for female subjects with LPRD (7.8 ± 2.6) was lower than that for males (11.0 ± 2.8; p < 0.001). According to ROC analysis, the best cutoffs were 9.0 for males and 6.0 for females. CONCLUSIONS: There was a significant difference in the RFS cutoff between the genders. For male subjects, we recommend a cutoff of 9.0 for diagnosing LPRD, and for female subjects, we recommend a cutoff of 6.0.

Association Between Voice Handicap Index and Reflux Symptom Index: A cross-sectional study of undiagnosed general and teacher cohorts in Saudi Arabia.

OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to assess potential associations between self-reported symptoms of laryngopharyngeal reflux (LPR) and voice disorders among two undiagnosed cohorts in Saudi Arabia. METHODS: This cross-sectional study was conducted from February to April 2017 in Khobar, Saudi Arabia. Validated Arabic versions of the Reflux Symptom Index (RSI) and 10-item Voice Handicap Index (VHI-10) were distributed to 400 teachers at 13 schools and 300 members of the general population attending an ear, nose and throat clinic in Khobar. Scores of >13 and >11 on the RSI and VHI-10 indicated a potential subjective diagnosis of LPR and voice disorders, respectively. RESULTS: A total of 446 individuals took part in the study, including 260 members of the general population (response rate: 86.7%) and 186 teachers (response rate: 46.5%). The mean age was 32.5 years. In total, 62.2% complained of voice and/or reflux problems, with the remaining 37.8% not reporting/unaware of any problems in this regard. Among the teachers, 30.6% and 18.3% had positive RSI and VHI-10 scores, respectively, while 43.1% and 14.6% of the individuals from the general population had positive RSI and VHI-10 scores, respectively. Overall, VHI-10 scores were significantly associated with RSI scores (P <0.001). CONCLUSION: A significant association between RSI and VHI-10 scores suggests that there may be an association between LPR and voice disorders. These tools would therefore be a valuable method of monitoring patients; however, they cannot be used to confirm a diagnosis. Thus, more detailed studies are needed to confirm this association using a larger sample size.

Semiología digestiva / Digestive semiology

La semiología digestiva pediátrica, al igual que todos los sistemas del cuerpo humano, incluyen la Inspección, la Auscultación, la Palpación y la Percusión del abdomen y sus órganos anexos. La historia clínica continúa siendo la principal herramienta con que contamos para orientar el diagnóstico y así proponer un plan terapéutico y de promoción y prevención, con el fin de evitar comorbimortalidades posibles. El presente artículo revisa algunas de las patologías más frecuentes que afectan el sistema gastrointestinal, hepático y nutricional en niños.

The pediatric gastrointestinal symptomatology, like all human body systems, including inspection, auscultation, palpation and percussion of the abdomen and its organs annexes. The clinical history remains the main tool we have to guide the diagnosis and thus to propose a treatment plan and health promotion and prevention, in order to avoid possible co morbilities and mortalities. This article reviews some of the most common diseases affecting the gastrointestinal system, liver and nutrition in children.