Association of nasopharyngeal and laryngopharyngeal reflux with postnasal drip symptomatology in patients with and without rhinosinusitis.

BackgroundPatients often report postnasal drip (PND), but objective rhinosinusitis and allergy findings are frequently absent. In this study, we evaluate the association between PND and pharyngeal reflux.MethodsSixty-eight participants underwent 24-hour pH testing, including chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS) patients persistently symptomatic after endoscopic sinus surgery, CRS patients successfully treated by endoscopic sinus surgery, and volunteers without a CRS history. The pH probes contained nasopharyngeal (NP), laryngopharyngeal (LP), and distal esophageal sensors. Participants completed the Sinonasal Outcome Test-20 (SNOT-20) and Modified Reflux Symptom Index (MRSI) questionnaires. Survey items addressing PND symptomatology were compared with NP reflux (NPR) below pH 4 and pH 5 (defined as ≥1 event), and LP reflux (LPR; defined as ≥7 events or reflux area index <6.3).ResultsPearson analyses revealed a positive correlation of r = 0.87 between SNOT-20 and MRSI PND items. For NPR < pH 4, no significant diff...