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Comorbid GERD as a determinant of symptom burden in LPRD

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Created On: 27/11/2025

Gastroesophageal reflux disease, Laryngopharyngeal reflux disease

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Key take away

GERD worsens the symptom burden in LPRD, with age, female sex, smoking, and alcohol use driving the risk of comorbidity.

Background

Laryngopharyngeal reflux disease (LPRD) frequently presents with throat irritation, hoarseness, and chronic cough, yet the effect of concurrent gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) on its clinical profile remains poorly understood. Understanding how GERD modifies symptom patterns and identifying its key risk factors are critical for achieving targeted management and optimizing patient outcomes.

Method

In total, 150 LPRD patients were categorized into GERD (n = 74) and non-GERD (n = 76) groups. Clinical variables included age, sex, body mass index (BMI), smoking, alcohol use, marital status, and recent eating habits. Reflux-related symptoms ranging from voice changes, persistent throat clearing, phlegm, swallowing difficulty, coughing, foreign body sensation, heartburn, chest pain, and stomach pain, were recorded. Symptom severity and endoscopic findings were quantified using the Reflux Symptom Index (RSI) and Reflux Finding Score (RFS). Binary logistic regression identified predictors of GERD in LPRD.

Result

Patients with LPRD and GERD were older, more often female, had higher BMI, and reported more smoking and alcohol use. They exhibited a higher prevalence of heartburn, chest and stomach pain, and bothersome cough, whereas postnasal drip was less frequent. RSI and RFS scores were considerably elevated in the GERD group. Regression analysis confirmed age, female sex, smoking, and alcohol consumption as significant risk factors for GERD comorbidity in LPRD.

Conclusion

GERD substantially increases the symptom burden in LPRD, highlighting the need for careful assessment and individualized management. Recognizing high-risk patients such as older adults, women, smokers, and alcohol users allows timely intervention, targeted therapy, and better symptom control, improving overall quality of life.