Can the Reflux Symptom Index Score Predict the Reflux Finding Score?

Abstract

Objective: 1) Learn if reflux symptom index (RSI) score correlates with reflux finding score (RFS). 2) Determine if there is a difference in calculating the Reflux Finding Score between experienced laryngologists and novice otolaryngologists. 3) Determine if age, body mass index, sex, or RSI can predict the reflux finding score.

Method: A total of 204 healthy subjects, ages 20 to 88 years, underwent a distal chip laryngoscopy and completed a RSI questionnaire. Two otolaryngologists blinded to the subjects’ age, sex, BMI, and RSI then calculated the RFS. Data were then collected and used to calculate a relationship between the RSI and RFS.

Results: The objective was to determine if we could predict a subject’s RFS based on their RSI score. The findings were not significant. The subject’s age, BMI, sex, and RSI score were all compared against the RFS score, and no significant correlation was identified. To calculate interrater reliability, the junior otolaryngologist’s and laryngologist’s scores were compared. To calculate the intrarater reliability, 22 of the 204 subjects’ captured images were duplicated and placed into the pool of subjects with a new number to compare if both scores were similar.

Conclusion: RSI cannot accurately predict a subject’s RFS from a distal chip laryngoscopy in normal healthy subjects. We did not see a correlation between age, sex, or BMI in predicting RFS. Test-retest intrarater reliability for both the experienced laryngologist and novice otolaryngologist were each significant; however, interrater reliability was not significant.