Using RSI and RFS scores to differentiate between reflux-related and other causes of chronic laryngitis

xlomafota13 shared this article with you from Inoreader Using RSI and RFS scores to differentiate between reflux-related and other causes of chronic laryngitis Via Associação Brasileira de Otorrinolaringologia e Cirurgia Cérvico-Facial Braz J Otorhinolaryngol. 2021 Oct 17:S1808-8694(21)00155-5. doi: 10.1016/j.bjorl.2021.08.003. Online ahead of print. ABSTRACT OBJECTIVE: To establish if the Reflux Symptom Index (RFI) and the Reflux Finding Score (RFC) can help establish the differential diagnosis in patients with distinct causes of chronic laryngopharyngitis. METHODS: A group of 102 adult patients with chronic laryngopharyngitis (Group A - 37 patients with allergic rhinitis; Group B - 22 patients with Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA); Group C - 43 patients with Laryngopharyngeal Reflux (LPR)) were prospectively studied. Chronic laryngitis was diagnosed based on suggestive symptoms and videolaryngoscopic signs (RSI ≥ 13 and RFS ≥ 7). Allergies were confirmed by a positive serum RAST, OSA was diagnosed with a positive polysomnography, and LPR with a positive impedance-PH study. Discriminant function analysis was used to determine if the combination of RSI and RFS scores could differentiate between groups. RESULTS: Patients with respiratory allergies and those with LPR showed similar and significantly higher RSI scores when compared to that of patients with OSA (p < 0.001); Patients with OSA and those with LPR showed similar and significantly higher RFS scores when compared to that of patients with Respiratory Allergies (OSA vs. Allergies p < 0.001; LPR vs. Allergies p < 0.002). The combination of both scores held a higher probability of diagnosing OSA (72.73%) and Allergies (64.86%) than diagnosing LPR (51.16%). CONCLUSIONS: RSI and RFS are not specific for reflux laryngitis and are more likely to induce a false diagnosis if not used with diligence. PMID:34840124 | DOI:10.1016/j.bjorl.2021.08.003 View on the web Inoreader. Take back control of your news feed. Follow us on Twitter and Facebook.