GASTROESOPHAGEAL REFLUX DISEASE AND LARYNGEAL SYMPTOMS - IS THERE REALLY A CAUSAL RELATIONSHIP

The frequencies of laryngeal symptoms and smoking habits were investig ated in 60 patients referred to 24-hour pH-metry because of esophagus- related symptoms. Group 1 comprised 30 consecutively referred patients who exhibited pathological gastroesophageal reflux by pH-metry, and g roup 2 comprised 30 consecutively referred patients who showed normal pH-metry. The patients, as well as 30 age-matched controls (not invest igated by pH-metry), answered a questionnaire about voice problems and smoking habits. The 60 patients reported a frequency of voice problem s comparable to the 30 controls. The various voice problems did not di ffer significantly in frequency between refluxers and patients with a normal reflux pattern in spite of the fact that there were significant ly more smokers among the refluxers compared to non-refluxers. We conc luded that voice problems were not more common among patients with abn ormal reflux patterns than among patients with a normal reflux defence .