The Impact of Chronic Mouth Breathing on Gastric Distension, Reflux Severity, and Pulmonary Function in Patients with Laryngopharyngeal Reflux: A Prospective Cohort Study

Summary This prospective cohort study investigated the mechanistic link between chronic mouth breathing, gastric distension, reflux severity, and pulmonary dysfunction in 82 patients with laryngopharyngeal reflux (LPR). Chronic mouth breathers (Group A, n=41) demonstrated significantly higher postprandial gastric air volumes, a greater number of proximal reflux events on 24-hour impedance–pH monitoring, and more pronounced small airway obstruction on pulmonary function tests (PFTs) compared with nasal breathers (Group B, n=41). A strong positive correlation was identified between gastric air volume and proximal reflux episodes (r=0.72, p