Transcutaneous electrical acupoint stimulation for suspected laryngopharyngeal reflux disease

To determine the efficacy of transcutaneous electrical acupoint stimulation (TEAS) combined with proton pump inhibitor (PPI) therapy on symptoms and signs of patients with suspected laryngopharyngeal reflux disease (LPRD).

This was a prospective randomized controlled study. Seventy patients with reflux symptom index (RSI) > 13 and reflux finding score (RFS) > 7 were recruited and received PPI alone (control group) or TEAS combined with PPI (experimental group) for 12 weeks. Patients in the experimental group received TEAS at Tiantu (RN22), Renying (ST9), and Neiguan (PC6) once a day, five times a week. RSI, RFS, throat pain visual analog score (VAS), and LPR-health-related quality-of-life (LPR-HRQL) scores were evaluated at baseline and after 4 and 12 weeks.

The decreases in total RSI and RFS, along with several subscores, were significantly higher in the experimental group than in the control group after 12 weeks (P < 0.05). The throat pain VAS and LPR-HRQL scores decreased significantly at 4 and 12 weeks after treatment in both groups, with significant differences between the groups (P < 0.001). No severe adverse events occurred, and the rates of adverse events were similar between the two groups.

Compared with PPI alone, TEAS combined with PPI showed a significantly greater improvement in symptoms, signs, and quality of life in the treatment of LPRD without increasing the occurrence of adverse effects. Therefore, TEAS could serve as a useful and safe treatment method for LPRD.

Chinese Clinical Trial Registry, ChiCTR2100046755.