Self-reported throat symptoms in Ehlers-Danlos syndromes and hypermobility spectrum disorders: A cross-sectional survey study

• Published in: Laryngoscope investigative otolaryngology Vol. 8; no. 5; pp. 1259 - 1264
• Main Authors: Williams, Hannah R, Wood, Gary, Hakim, Alan J, Birchall, Martin, Hirani, Shashivadan P
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States John Wiley & Sons, Inc 01.10.2023; Wiley
• Subjects: Clinical outcomes; Connective tissue; Cross-sectional studies; Dysphagia; dysphonia; Ehlers–Danlos; Gender; hypermobility; Inflammation; Laryngology, Speech and Language Science; Original Research; reflux; Skewness; Swallowing; United Kingdom > UK; dysphagia; Ehlers–Danlos; hypermobility; reflux; dysphonia
• ISSN: 2378-8038; 2378-8038
• DOI: 10.1002/lio2.1120

This study identified the frequency and severity of dysphagia, dysphonia, and laryngopharyngeal reflux symptoms in people with Ehlers-Danlos syndromes (EDS) or hypermobility spectrum disorders (HSD) and explored differences between diagnostic groups. Participants were recruited via non-probability convenience sampling. Information was gathered via online survey, including the Reflux Symptom Index (RSI; Belafsky et al., . 2002;16:274-277), the Eating and Drinking Assessment Tool (EAT-10; Belafsky et al., . 2008;117:919-924), and the Voice Handicap Index (VHI; Jacobson et al., . 1997;6(3):66-70). These were analyzed using ANOVAs. There were 1620 participants (96.6% female, 2.8% male) that met the inclusion criteria. The mean age was 38.09 (SD 12.22). 75.51% had hypermobile EDS (hEDS), 17.83% had HSD and 3.33% had classic EDS (cED). The cohort's mean scores were RSI = 22.95 (SD 9.01), EAT-10 = 11.91 (SD 9.66), and VHI score = 31.99 (SD 24.36). The hEDS group had significantly higher mean scores than the HSD group on RSI score and on some RSI items, on EAT-10 score and on all EAT-10 items, and on one VHI item. People with EDS/HSD experience symptoms of acid reflux, dysphagia, and dysphonia to varying degrees with significant differences between hEDS than HSD. Awareness of the impact of EDS/HSD on throat symptoms will enable health care professionals to anticipate throat symptoms more readily in this population, providing individualized and effective management plans. IV.