Effect of positive airway pressure compliance on laryngopharyngeal reflux in obstructive sleep apnea patients

Abstract

Abstract Objectives To determine the effect of continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) compliance on symptoms and signs of laryngopharyngeal reflux (LPR) in patients with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). Results Thirty patients were included. The participants were divided into good compliance (n = 21) and poor compliance (n = 9) groups. After 6-month CPAP treatment, the reflux symptom index score significantly decreased in both the good compliance group (20 (17,24) vs. 14 (10,18), p < 0.001) and the poor compliance group (21 (18,25) vs. 10 (5,16), p < 0.05). Reflux finding score was significantly reduced in both the good compliance group (8 (6,9) vs. 4 (3,5), p < 0.001) and the poor compliance group (6 (4,8) vs. 3 (2,4), p < 0.05). However, there were no statistically significant differences between the groups. CPAP treatment reduces the symptoms and signs of LPR. However, CPAP compliance does not correlate with improvement in LPR in patients with OSA.

Keywords

• Continuous positive airway pressure
• Compliance
• Extraesophageal reflux
• Laryngopharyngeal reflux
• Obstructive sleep apnea