The Time-Point Distribution Characteristics of Laryngopharyngeal Reflux in Elderly Patients

Objective. To identify the characteristics of the time-point distribution of the occurrence of hypopharyngeal-proximal reflux episodes (HREs) in elderly and younger patients with laryngopharyngeal reflux (LPR).Study Design. Retrospective cohort study.Setting. Analysis of data from patients with LPR-related symptoms and 24-hour hypopharyngeal-esophageal multichannel intraluminal impedance-pH (24-hour HEMII-pH) monitoring from February 2017 to September 2022 at Sixth Medical Center of PLA General Hospital.Methods. Patients were divided into 2 age groups: the elderly group (>60 years) and the younger group (<= 60 years). The time series of HREs and meals within 24 hours were analyzed based on HEMII-pH.Results. A total of 305 patients were included (126 elderly patients). In younger patients, except for nonacid-gas HREs, the incidence of the remaining types of HREs tended to increase within 2 hours after meals, especially after dinner. The incidence of all types of HREs pre- and postmeal was not significantly different in the elderly group (chi(2) = 0.080, P = .777). The incidence of nighttime HREs in elderly patients was statistically higher than in younger patients (6.23% vs 3.96%, P = .030), particularly acid-/nonacid-liquid HREs.Conclusion. HREs tend to increase within 2 hours after meals in younger LPR patients, except for nonacid-gas HREs. In elderly LPR patients, the incidence of all types of HREs pre- and postmeal were not significantly different, and nighttime fluid HREs was more prone to occur than in younger patients.