Characteristics of Laryngopharyngeal Reflux in the Chinese Nurse Population.

Objectives: To investigate the prevalence of laryngopharyngeal reflux (LPR) and knowledge of LPR in the Chinese nurse population.

Method: From October 2021 through December 2021, participants were recruited from the PLA General Hospital's Sixth Medical Center. All included participants completed the Reflux Symptom Index (RSI), and LPR was defined as RSI > 13. In addition, each participant was asked to record whether they had any habits such as preferring to consume high-fat food and carbonated beverages, over-eating at dinner, sedentary after meals and lying down within 2 hour after meals, as well as whether they were aware of LPR. For the participants with RSI >13 points, they were treated using diet and lifestyle behavioral recommendations and were prescribed a twice daily pantoprazole (20 mg, 3 months).

Results: A total of 828 participants were included. The positivity and awareness rates of LPR were 3.38% and 55.96%, respectively. RSI scores were significantly higher in LPR-positive subjects than in LPR-negative (16.79 ± 4.43 vs. 1.33 ± 2.33). Among the participants with LPR, there were significant positive association between RSI scores and preferring to consume high-fat food and carbonated beverages, over-eating at dinner, lying down within 2 hour after a meal, and sedentary after meals. RSI scores in 63% of participants with LPR significantly decreased from baseline to 1 month posttreatment. From 1 to 3 months posttreatment, 90% of participants had significantly lower RSI scores than pretreatment.

Conclusions: There are a certain number of LPR patients in the Chinese nurse population, however, knowledge of LPR among nurses is unsatisfactory. Over-eating at dinner, lying down within 2 hour after a meal and sedentary after meals are risk factors for LPR. With combined regular dietary and lifestyle behavioral change and acid-suppressing treatment, most patients with LPR achieve effective remission.