April - June 2012, Volume 8, Issue 2

Hamdan AL, Jabbour J, Dowli A, El Dahouk I, Azar S

Prevalence of Laryngopharyngeal Reflux Disease in Patients Diagnosed with Hypothyroidism

Acta Endo (Buc) 2012, 8 (2): 239-248
doi: 10.4183/aeb.2012.239

Objective. To examine the prevalence of laryngopharyngeal reflux disease (LPRD) in patients with hypothyroidism.\r\nMaterials and Methods. A total of 85 patients with hypothyroidism vs 31 matched controls were recruited. Demographic data was collected and an RSI questionnaire\r\nfilled. 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.\r\nResults. 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\r\na 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\r\nexamination 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\r\ncomparison between those with TSH > 4.2 mU/L and cases diagnosed with hypothyroidism and normal TSH revealed no\r\nsignificant difference in the prevalence of LPRD. All laryngopharyngeal questions had a score higher in the hypothyroid group than controls.\r\nConclusion. 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.

Keywords: Hypothyroidism, Thyroid disease, LPRD

Correspondence: Sami T. Azar, Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Endocrinology and Metabolism, American University of Beirut-Medical Center, 3 Dag Hammarskjold Plaza, 8th floor, New York, NY 10017, Fax: 961-1-365-189, Tel: +961-3-234-250, Email: sazar@aub.edu.lb