Reflux and sleeping disorders: a systematic review

Abstract

Introduction: Laryngopharyngeal reflux is perhaps the most extensively researched laryngology topic of the last decade. It has been suggested that some supraoesophageal symptoms, most notably asthma and laryngospasm, may be associated with night-time, or supine, reflux. The aim of this review was to assess the levels of evidence regarding a correlation between night-time reflux, snoring and apnoea.

Methods: A Medline search was performed using the terms 'reflux', 'night-time', 'larynx', 'gastroesophageal', 'laryngopharyngeal', 'sleep', 'apnoea', 'snoring' and 'ear nose throat'. The retrieved literature was reviewed, focusing on randomised and non-randomised, controlled, prospective trials. Papers on both paediatric and adult populations were included. Non-English language papers were excluded.

Results: We found no randomised, controlled trials or meta-analyses addressing the possible correlation between reflux and snoring and/or apnoea.

Conclusions: The role of night-time reflux in paediatric and adult snoring and apnoea is well described in the literature, but is based on poor levels of evidence from uncontrolled studies and case reports.