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Anticholinergic medication use is associated with globus pharyngeus

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  27 October 2016

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

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.

Type
Main Articles
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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