Prevalence of Laryngopharyngeal Reflux Disease in Patients Diagnosed with Hypothyroidism

Abstract

Objective. To examine the prevalence of laryngopharyngeal reflux disease (LPRD) in patients with hypothyroidism.Materials and Methods. A total of 85 patients with hypothyroidism vs 31 matched controls were recruited. Demographic data was collected and an RSI questionnaire filled. A score > 10 was considered diagnostic of LPRD. The average score of every question was computed for all patients and compared to the corresponding average score in controls.Results. Mean age of hypothyroidism patients was 44.92 ± 13.77 years (83% females). One third of subjects were smokers and 10% had allergy. In 78.8% of the cases Hashimoto's disease was the etiological factor and 22.4% patients had history of thyroidectomy. At the time of examination, only 30% had a TSH > 4.2 mU/L. There was a borderline significance where more patients than controls had a RSI > 10 (24.7% patients vs. 9.1% controls), but with non-significant difference (p = 0.077). Similarly, closer examination of those with TSH > 4.2mU/L compared to those with controls revealed a higher prevalence in the former group, but statistically non-significant (p = 0.275). A comparison between those with TSH > 4.2 mU/L and cases diagnosed with hypothyroidism and normal TSH revealed no significant difference in the prevalence of LPRD. All laryngopharyngeal questions had a score higher in the hypothyroid group than controls.Conclusion. LPRD is more prevalent in hypothyroidism patients compared to normal individuals, but with nonstatistically significant difference. The prevalence of symptoms should alert physicians to the possibility of LPRD and prompt further diagnostic tests and therapeutic intervention.

Autopercepção da deglutição em pacientes com doença tireoidiana benigna não cirúrgica

“…The presence of thyroid nodules or edema in this region may produce compressive effects that limit laryngeal mobility (6,9,11) and favor the emergence of swallowing complaints. The presence of compressive symptoms in benign thyroid diseases cannot be easily assessed objectively, but they are known to be more commonly observed in surgical cases (10) .…”

“…Swallowing dysfunctions are the result of compressive effects or the consequence of surgical interventions (2,3) , with gastrointestinal tract dysmotility leading the complaint reports (4)(5)(6) . Changes in the oropharyngeal transit differ according to the type of thyroid disease and seem to be more concentrated in the laryngopharyngeal region (4)(5)(6)(7)(8)(9)(10)(11)(12) .…”

“…Swallowing dysfunctions are the result of compressive effects or the consequence of surgical interventions (2,3) , with gastrointestinal tract dysmotility leading the complaint reports (4)(5)(6) . Changes in the oropharyngeal transit differ according to the type of thyroid disease and seem to be more concentrated in the laryngopharyngeal region (4)(5)(6)(7)(8)(9)(10)(11)(12) . In hypothyroidism, discomfort is perceived in the cervical region, manifested as dry throat, dyspnea, globus pharyngeus, pain, itching, and burning (5,8) , which are symptoms related to myxedema that compromise laryngeal mobility and the proper functioning of pharyngoesophageal transit (4,6) .…”

“…Changes in the oropharyngeal transit differ according to the type of thyroid disease and seem to be more concentrated in the laryngopharyngeal region (4)(5)(6)(7)(8)(9)(10)(11)(12) . In hypothyroidism, discomfort is perceived in the cervical region, manifested as dry throat, dyspnea, globus pharyngeus, pain, itching, and burning (5,8) , which are symptoms related to myxedema that compromise laryngeal mobility and the proper functioning of pharyngoesophageal transit (4,6) . In patients with thyroid nodules, the symptoms are associated with the degree of compression, and there may be surgical indication even for benign cases (9)(10)(11) .…”

Learning bundled care opportunities from electronic medical records

“…For instance, within cluster C 3 , bone loss is known to be caused by hypogonadism following prostate cancer [38]. Furthermore, acid reflux is known to be affiliated with thyroid problems [39].…”