Abstract
Objectives
To evaluate symptoms and videolaryngoscopic findings common in reflux in patients with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) and to determine the relationship between laryngeal inflammation and OSA severity.
Methods
Data of 38 adult outpatients with first-proven OSA verified in overnight polysomnography during 2006–2007 were prospectively analyzed. Symptoms common in laryngopharyngeal reflux were self-rated using reflux symptoms index (RSI). Videolaryngoscopic laryngeal changes were evaluated with reflux finding score (RFS). Body mass index (BMI) was calculated for all patients.
Results
30 males and 8 females with mean age of 49.5 years were assessed. BMI of patients ranged from 23.1 to 46.6 kg/cm2 showing 86.8% of patients overweight. 52.6% of selected patients had mild OSA, 10.5%- moderate, 36.8- severe. Mean value of self-rated RSI was 13.8 points. Abnormal RSI was detected in 52.6% of patients. The most common symptoms indicated medium to severe problem were chronic throat clearing-; 48.6% of patients, increased amount of mucus coming into the nasopharynx-; 40.5%, and globus sensation-; 35.1%. The inflammation of the larynx was diagnosed for 78.9% of patients with mean RFS value of 10.1 points. The pronounced findings were vestibular folds hypertrophy-; 81.6%, posterior commissure hypertrophy- 73.7%, thick endolaryngeal mucus-; 63.2%, and vocal folds edema-; 44.7% of patients. Only diffuse laryngeal edema showed significant positive correlation with increasing of AHI.
Conclusions
A high prevalence of laryngeal symptoms and inflammation indicating reflux in OSA patients was identified. Direct significant correlation between laryngeal inflammation and OSA severity was not determined.
Get full access to this article
View all access options for this article.