Characteristics of upright versus supine reflux pattern in patients with laryngopharyngeal reflux

Introduction: Many laryngeal-related problems have been attributed to laryngopharyngeal reflux including dysphonia, frequent throat clearing, chronic cough, and globus sensation. However, there is still controversy regarding diagnosis and clinical presentation of this disorder. Objective: The main objective of this study is to describe laryngopharyngeal reflux characteristics of different reflux position patterns in laryngopharyngeal reflux patients diagnosed with oropharyngeal pH monitoring. Methods: A retrospective chart review was conducted for 161 laryngopharyngeal reflux patients diagnosed with 24 h oro-pharyngeal pH monitoring. Study subjects were categorized into upright and supine laryngopharyngeal reflux groups based on the pH results. The two groups were compared regarding the clinical presentation and pH characteristics. Results: Significant higher rates of upright laryngopharyngeal reflux position than supine laryngopharyngeal reflux position (P