PURPOSE: to determine the relation between Laryngopharyngeal Reflux Symptoms Index (LPRSI) and the main symptoms of gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) - heartburn and retroesternal pain - voice usage level and voice screening. METHOD: there were 179 volunteers, older than 18 years old, 107 females and 72 males divided into two groups according to the LPRSI total score: positive group (total score equals or greater than 13) and the negative group (below 13). Participants answered questions about the presence of typical GERD signs (heartburn and/or retroesternal pain), the voice usage level (high or low demand) and submitted to voice screening during the interview. RESULTS: for LPRSI, 35 (19.6%) subjects made up the positive group (average score of 20) and 144 (80.4%) subjects made up the negative group (average score of 4.34). The typical GER symptoms were greater in the positive group: heartburn in 54.2% (19) versus 30.5% (44), retroesternal pain in 51.4% (18) versus 20.1% (29), and 74.3% of the subjects in the positive group and only 43.1% of those in the negative group showed one of the symptoms. For voice screening, 37.1% of the positive group and only 13% of the negative one failed it. There was no difference in voice demand related by any volunteer in neither groups. Statistical relation was found between positive LPRSI, GERD symptoms and voice screening failure (p<0.0001). No relation to voice usage was found. CONCLUSION: a positive LPRSI may be related to signs of GERD and to altered voice quality noticed during the screening.
Gastroesophageal Reflux; Voice; Heartburn
