Major Finding: No association was seen between globus and survival 15 years later, based on both univariate analysis (hazard ratio 1.20) and multivariate analysis (HR 1.33).
Data Source: Analysis of 1,468 randomly selected people in Olmstead County, Minn., who completed a GI symptom survey in 1993.
Disclosures: Dr. Chang had nothing to disclose.
BOSTON – In 1993, approximately 7% of a randomly selected cohort of people living in Olmsted County, Minn., who completed a GI symptom survey reported that they felt a “lump in the throat,” known as globus sensation, at least a quarter of the time. Analysis of records over the next 15 years indicated that globus was a benign disorder with no significant effect on survival, Dr. Joseph Y. Chang said at the meeting.
“In this population-based cohort study with over 20,000 person-years of follow-up, no significant association was observed between survival and globus sensation. These findings are reassuring and may help in the management and counseling of patients,” said Dr. Chang of the enteric neuroscience program at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minn.
In 1993, 74% of 2,073 eligible subjects responded to the survey, and 1,434 had a complete data set. At the time of the survey, the mean age was 50 years and 52% were female. Those with serious medical illnesses were excluded.
In the survey, globus was defined as sensation of a “lump in the throat” when not swallowing, at least 25% of the time, in the past year. In all, 104 people reported globus symptoms, yielding an age- and sex-adjusted prevalence of globus in the past year of 7.1 per 100.
Minnesota administrative death records were analyzed to determine which survey respondents had died through April 2008. No association was found between globus and survival 15 years later, based on both univariate analysis (hazard ratio, 1.20) and multivariate analysis (HR, 1.33). Characteristics such as age, sex, marital status, education level, employment status, smoking history, and alcohol use were also not linked to globus.
Somatization was common in people with globus (odds ratio, 5.4). Also, globus was associated with other reflux-type gastrointestinal complaints, such as infrequent GERD, frequent GERD, dysphagia, dyspepsia, infrequent and frequent heartburn, and infrequent and frequent acid regurgitation. Those with globus were also likely to report hoarseness and noncardiac chest pain.