Reflux Symptom Index(RSI) and Reflux Finding Score(RFS) of Persons Taking Health Checkup and Their Relationship with Gastrofiberscopic Findings

Jung, Young Ho; Chang, Dong Yeop; Jang, Jeong Hoon; Jung, Eun Jung; Hah, Hun; Sung, Myung Whun; Kim, Kwang Hyun; Kwon, Tack Kyun

Abstract

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Few studies were performed regarding laryngopharyngeal reflux symptoms and reflux findings in persons taking health checkup. The purpose of this study was to evaluate laryngopharyngeal reflux symptom index (RSI) and reflux finding score (RFS) at a healthcare center and their relationship with gastrofiberscopic findings.
SUBJECTS AND METHOD
This study included 157 persons taking healthcare program which contained laryngoscopic examination between February 2006 and June 2006. The data of each patients were collected by questionnaire, fill-up sheets of laryngoscopic findings and a retrospective review of medical record.
RESULTS
The male to female ratio was about 4 : 1. The mean age was 47 years. The mean values of RSI and RFS were 2.95 and 3.85. Seven (4.5%) persons had RSI more than 13, and 31 (19.7%) persons had RFS more than 7. On gastrofiberscopy, 23 (14.6%) persons had reflux esophagitis, and their RSI were significantly higher than those who did not have reflux esophagitis, and had frequent gastroesophageal reflux symptoms. In persons with abnormal RSI or RFS, only 29% had reflux esophagitis on gastrofiberscopy. Age was inversely related with RSI and smoking was positively related with RFS.
CONCLUSION
We suggest that if a person was found to have abnormally elevated RSI or RFS, a diagnostic evaluation for LPR should be considered irrespective of the presence of reflux esophagitis on gastrofiberscopy. In a person with reflux esophagitis on gastrofiberscopy, he or she showed high RSI without any significant differences in RFS : this may have been because the RSI questionnaire included the gastroesophageal reflux symptom item.