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Role of Reflux Symptom Index and Reflux Finding Score in Diagnosing Laryngopharyngeal Reflux: A Prospective Study

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Indian Journal of Otolaryngology and Head & Neck Surgery Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Laryngopharyngeal Reflux Disease (LPRD) is caused due to reflux of gastric content into the larynx and pharynx. The present study was done to assess the role of Reflux Symptom Index (RSI) and Reflux Finding Score (RFS) in the treatment outcomes in symptomatic patients with LPRD. This is a prospective analytical study conducted on 200 patients for a period of 2 years, from January 2020 to February 2022. Patients suspected with LPR were evaluated using RSI and RFS, and both pre and post treatment scores were compared to assess the change in scores of RSI and RFS following 8 weeks of treatment with PPI (Proton pump inhibitor). The patients experienced a greater incidence of moderate symptoms in RSI. Wilcoxon signed-rank test showed significant difference between pre and post treatment scores with respect to reflux symptoms and reflux findings (p < 0.05). Implementation of RSI and RFS scoring system helped for early diagnosis of LPR, and a significant difference was seen between pre and post treatment scores in both RSI and RFS.

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Funding

The authors have no relevant financial or non-financial interests to disclose.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of ENT & HNS, BGS Global Institute of Medical Science, BGS Health & Education City, # 67, Uttarahalli Road, Kengeri, Bengaluru, 560060, India

    Dechu Muddaiah, V. Prashanth, M. K. Vybhavi, V. Srinivas & M. Lavanya

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  1. Dechu Muddaiah
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  2. V. Prashanth
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  3. M. K. Vybhavi
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  4. V. Srinivas
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  5. M. Lavanya
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Contributions

All authors contributed to the study conception and design. Material preparation, data collection and analysis were performed by Dr Dechu Muddaiah, Dr Prashanth V, Dr Vybhavi MK and Dr lavanya Manjunath. The first draft of the manuscript was written by Dr Dechu Muddaiah and all authors commented on previous versions of the manuscript. All authors read and approved the final manuscript.

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Correspondence to Dechu Muddaiah.

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Conflict of interests

The authors did not receive support from any organization for the submitted work. The authors have no competing interests to declare that are relevant to the content of this article. This material is the authors’ own original work, which has not been previously published elsewhere. The paper properly credits the meaningful contributions of co-authors and co-researchers. The results are appropriately placed in the context of prior and existing research. There is no competing interest and informed consent was taken from all study participants.

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Ethical clearance was taken from the institutional ethical committee before conduct of study.

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Muddaiah, D., Prashanth, V., Vybhavi, M.K. et al. Role of Reflux Symptom Index and Reflux Finding Score in Diagnosing Laryngopharyngeal Reflux: A Prospective Study. Indian J Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg 75, 777–783 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12070-023-03482-1

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