Do Otolaryngologists Over- or Underestimate Laryngopharyngeal Reflux Symptoms and Findings in Clinical Practice? A Comparison Study between the True Prevalence and the Otolaryngologist-Estimated Prevalence of Symptoms and Findings

Purpose: To investigate the prevalence of symptoms and signs of laryngopharyngeal reflux (LPR) and to compare them with the otolaryngologist-estimated prevalence of the most common LPR-related symptoms and signs. Methods: The prevalence of LPR symptoms and signs was determined through the clinical data of 403 patients with a positive LPR diagnosis on hypopharyngeal−esophageal multichannel intraluminal impedance pH monitoring. The otolaryngologist-estimated prevalence was assessed through an international survey investigating the thoughts of 824 otolaryngologists toward LPR symptom and sign prevalence. The determination of potential over- or underestimation of LPR symptoms and findings was investigated through a data comparison between the ‘true’ prevalence and the ‘estimated prevalence’ of symptoms and findings by otolaryngologists. Results: The prevalence of breathing difficulties, coated tongue, and ventricular band inflammation was adequately evaluated by otolaryngologists. The prevalence of hoarseness, throat pain, odynophagia, dysphagia, throat clearing, globus sensation, excess throat mucus, tongue burning, heartburn, regurgitations, halitosis, cough after eating or lying down, and troublesome cough was overestimated by otolaryngologists (p < 0.01), while the prevalence of chest pain was underestimated as an LPR symptom. Most laryngeal signs, e.g., arytenoid/laryngeal erythema, inter-arytenoid granulation, posterior commissure hypertrophy, retrocricoid edema/erythema, and endolaryngeal sticky mucus, were overestimated (p < 0.01). The occurrence of anterior pillar erythema and tongue tonsil hypertrophy was underestimated by participants. Conclusion: Most laryngopharyngeal reflux symptoms and laryngeal signs were overestimated by otolaryngologists, while some non-laryngeal findings were underestimated. Future studies are needed to better understand the reasons for this phenomenon and to improve the awareness of otolaryngologists toward the most and least prevalent reflux symptoms and signs.