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Anticholinergic medication use is associated with globus pharyngeus

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  27 October 2016

S Haft ,
R M Carey ,
D Farquhar  and
N Mirza
S Haft
Affiliation:
Department of Otorhinolaryngology: Head and Neck Surgery, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, USA Division of Otolaryngology, University of California, San Diego, USA
R M Carey*
Affiliation:
Department of Otorhinolaryngology: Head and Neck Surgery, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, USA
D Farquhar
Affiliation:
Department of Otorhinolaryngology: Head and Neck Surgery, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, USA Department of Otolaryngology: Head and Neck Surgery, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, USA
N Mirza
Affiliation:
Department of Otorhinolaryngology: Head and Neck Surgery, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, USA
*
Address for correspondence: Dr Ryan M Carey, Department of Otorhinolaryngology: Head and Neck Surgery, University of Pennsylvania, 3400 Spruce Street, 5 Ravdin, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA E-mail: rcarey@mail.med.upenn.edu
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Abstract

Background:

Globus pharyngeus has been linked to salivary hypofunction. We hypothesise that a considerable portion of the globus experienced by patients is due to a drying effect secondary to anticholinergic medication use; this study aimed to determine their association.

Methods:

A cross-sectional study was conducted of 270 patients who presented to a laryngology practice over 6 months. Participants rated globus sensation on a 5-point severity scale, with those scoring 0 considered as controls (non-globus). Participants were excluded if they had a likely cause of globus. Scores were compared with participants’ medication lists, co-morbidities, age and gender, and evaluated using multivariate analysis, with significance set at p < 0.05.

Results:

Any participant taking at least 2 anticholinergic medications had a 3.52 increased odds (p = 0.02) of experiencing globus. A previous diagnosis of gastroesophageal reflux disease was also significantly associated with globus (p = 0.004), with an odds ratio of 3.75.

Conclusion:

A substantial portion of idiopathic globus may be due to anticholinergic use or reflux. The findings implicate medication use as a risk factor for globus. An awareness of these associations is invaluable for identifying cause and treating globus.

Keywords

AnticholinergicsGlobusDrug Side EffectsReflux Symptom IndexSiccaLaryngopharyngeal Reflux

Information

Type
Main Articles
Information
The Journal of Laryngology & Otology , Volume 130 , Issue 12 , December 2016 , pp. 1125 - 1129
Copyright
Copyright © JLO (1984) Limited 2016 

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Footnotes

Presented as a poster at the 94th Annual Meeting of the American Broncho-Esophagological Association, 14–15 May 2014, Las Vegas, Nevada, USA.

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