Reflux Symptom Index and Reflux Finding Score in Diagnosis of Laryngopharyngeal Reflux

Background Although laryngopharyngeal reflux is a common condition encountered in otolaryngological practice, its diagnosis is not very easy because of its indistinct symptoms Objective To assess the efficacy of proton pump inhibitors versus proton pump inhibitors with lifestyle modification in patients with laryngopharyngeal reflux. Method Prospective, analytical study conducted in Department of Otorhinolaryngology and Head and Neck Surgery at Dhulikhel Hospital, Kathmandu University Hospital between January 2015 to January 2016. Eighty two patients with laryngopharyngeal reflux having Reflux symptom index > 13 and Reflux finding score > 7 were included. Patients were divided into 2 groups. Group A comprised of patients treated with proton pump inhibitors alone and Group B with Proton pump inhibitors with lifestyle modification. Pre and post therapeutic reflux finding score and reflux symptom index were compared. Result The mean reflux symptom index score difference before and after treatment in group A was 16.70 and group B was 14.58. Similarly, mean reflux finding score difference before and after treatment in group A was 8.68 and group B was 9.92. Comparison of reflux finding score and reflux symptom index scores before and after treatment revealed improvement in both groups and the difference was statistically significant (p<0.001). However, comparison of pre and post therapeutic and scores between group A and B, showed no statistical significance. Conclusion The extent of symptomatic improvement correlated positively with both proton pump inhibitor therapy alone as well as with proton pump inhibitor therapy along with lifestyle modification. Although addition of lifestyle modification offered incremental benefit for treating laryngopharyngeal reflux, it was not found to be statistically significant.