Clinical and psychological characteristics in gastroesophageal reflux disease patients overlapping with laryngopharyngeal reflux symptoms.

BACKGROUND AND AIM: Laryngopharyngeal reflux (LPR) defined as reflux of gastric content reaching above the upper esophageal sphincter is frequently found in patients with gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). This study aimed to investigate clinical and psychological differences between GERD patients with or without LPR symptoms. METHODS: This study enrolled 303 consecutive patients with proton pump inhibitor treatment-naïve scheduled for upper endoscopy because of troublesome reflux symptoms and recognized as GERD by non-dyspepsia reflux disease questionnaire score. Included GERD patients were further categorized into two study groups: with or without LPR by reflux symptoms index score. All participants were also evaluated with questionnaires for depression, anxiety, and sleep disturbances. RESULTS: There were 132 (43.6%) GERD patients with LPR symptoms and 171 (56.4%) GERD patients without LPR symptoms. GERD patients with LPR symptoms had more depression (P < 0.001), sleep disturbance (P = 0.002), irritable bowel syndrome (P = 0.008), functional dyspepsia (P = 0.005), and reflux symptoms burden (P < 0.001) than those without LPR symptoms. Erosive esophagitis was more in patients without LPR symptoms (P = 0.03). GERD patients with LPR symptoms (28.8%) had more complex psychological distress than those without LPR symptoms (28.8% vs 14%, P < 0.001). Reflux symptoms burden, sleep disturbance, and erosive esophagitis were independently associated with GERD overlapping with LPR symptoms. CONCLUSIONS: Gastroesophageal reflux disease patients with LPR symptoms appear to have more reflux symptoms, psychological distress, and functional gastrointestinal disturbance but less erosive esophagitis. This work suggests that therapeutic strategy with tailored multidimensional approach is promising for GERD patients overlapping with LPR symptoms.