Epidemiology of globus symptoms and its associated psychological factors in China

ABSTRACT

AIM

To investigate epidemiological and psychological characteristics of globus symptoms in China.

METHODS

Three thousand three hundred and sixty individuals were randomly selected and invited to participate in the study. Subjects completed questionnaires about demographic characteristics, globus symptomatology questionnaire,Glasgow-Edinburgh Throat Scale, psychological characteristics, quality of sleep and life. Subjects who reported having experienced a globus sensation in their lifetime and there is no history of GERD, true dysphagia, odynophagia or alerting signal such as weight loss or hoarseness were judged as having globus.

RESULTS

A total of 3006 subjects completed the questionnaires, giving a response rate of 89.46%. The overall lifetime prevalence of globus was 21.46%, with a peak onset age in 35-54 years old. Lifetime prevalence of globus was higher in the urban area than in the rural area (26.48% vs. 16.41%, P = 0.001). No gender-related difference in prevalence was observed (female: 22.67%, male: 20.05%, P = 0.082). The incidence of anxiety, depression, and sleep disorders was significantly higher in respondents with globus than in respondents without globus (39.84% vs. 22.28%, P = 0.001; 31.16% vs. 17.96%, P = 0.001; and 23.72% vs. 13.55%, P = 0.001, respectively). Scores on all dimensions of the 36-item short-form health survey except physical function were lower in respondents with globus than in respondents without globus (all P < 0.05).

CONCLUSION

Globus symptoms is common, often accompanied by psychological and sleep disorders. The medical community should pay more attention to it.

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