Laryngopharyngeal reflux in obstructive sleep apnoea patients: Literature review and meta-analysis

Am J Otolaryngol. 2018 Nov-Dec;39(6):776-780. doi: 10.1016/j.amjoto.2018.09.006. Epub 2018 Sep 12.

Abstract

Purpose: Laryngopharyngeal reflux (LPR) is a frequent condition in Obstructive Sleep Apnoea (OSA) patients and different studies have been published in the last years about this topic. A review of the published literature regarding LPR in OSA patients has been reported. A meta-analysis to evaluate the incidence of LPR in OSA patients and correlate LPR positivity with OSA patients' characteristics has been performed.

Methods: A comprehensive review of the English language literature about LPR in OSA patients was performed using the most important electronic databases (PubMed, EMBASE, the Cochrane Library etc.). A total of 10 papers studying LPR in OSA were assessed and considered eligible for the meta-analysis.

Results: The data analysis regarding 870 identified OSA patients showed that 394 patients were LPR +, while 476 were LPR-. The meta-analysis showed no statistical difference regarding the AHI value between LPR + patients and LPR- patients (p = 0,3). Mean BMI was more higher in LPR + patients than in the patients without LPR, showing a significant statistical difference (p = 0.001).

Conclusion: Current international literature demonstrates a high incidence of LPR (45.2%) in OSA patients. The severity of AHI in OSA patients would not seem to correlate with the presence of laryngopharyngeal reflux. The OSA patients with LPR showed a higher BMI compared with LPR- patients.

Keywords: Laryngopharyngeal reflux; OSA; Obstructive sleep apnoea; Reflux.

Publication types

  • Meta-Analysis
  • Review
  • Systematic Review

MeSH terms

  • Humans
  • Laryngopharyngeal Reflux / epidemiology*
  • Sleep Apnea, Obstructive / complications*