Association between halitosis diagnosed by a questionnaire and halimeter and symptoms of gastroesophageal reflux disease

Hyo-Jung Lee; Hee Man Kim; Nayoung Kim; Jane C Oh; Hyun Jin Jo; Jung-Tae Lee; Hee-Yung Chang; Na-Hee Chang; Soyeon Ahn; Jeong-Yun Lee

doi:10.5056/jnm14052

Association between halitosis diagnosed by a questionnaire and halimeter and symptoms of gastroesophageal reflux disease

J Neurogastroenterol Motil. 2014 Oct 30;20(4):483-90. doi: 10.5056/jnm14052. Epub 2014 Sep 26.

Authors

Hyo-Jung Lee¹, Hee Man Kim², Nayoung Kim³, Jane C Oh⁴, Hyun Jin Jo³, Jung-Tae Lee¹, Hee-Yung Chang⁵, Na-Hee Chang⁶, Soyeon Ahn⁷, Jeong-Yun Lee⁸

Affiliations

¹ Departments of Periodontology, Seoul National University Bundang Hospital, Seoungnam, Gyeonggi-do, Korea.
² Department of Internal Medicine, Yonsei University Wonju College of Medicine, Wonju, Gangwon-do, Korea.
³ Internal Medicine, Seoul National University Bundang Hospital, Seoungnam, Gyeonggi-do, Korea.
⁴ Yonsei Plus Clinic, Seongnam, Gyeonggi-do, Korea.
⁵ Department of Periodontology, School of Dentistry, Wonkwang University, Iksan, Jeollabuk-do, Korea.
⁶ Department of Public Health, Graduate School of Chungang University, Seoul, Korea.
⁷ Medical Research Collaborating Center, Seoul National University Bundang Hospital, Gyeonggi-do, Korea.
⁸ Department of Oral Medicine and Oral Diagnosis, School of Dentistry, Seoul National University, Seoul, Korea.

Abstract

Background/aims: The relationship between halitosis and gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) remains controversial. The aim of this study was to investigate an association between subjective and objective halitosis and GERD.

Methods: The subjects were enrolled from participants who visited a health promotion center at Seoul National University Bundang Hospital. For diagnosis of halitosis, a questionnaire was requested, and volatile sulfur compounds (VSCs) were measured by Halimeter. Self-conscious halitosis was defined as halitosis perceived by himself or herself. Informed halitosis was defined as hal-itosis perceived by others. Objective halitosis was defined when mean VSCs values were > 100 parts per billion. GERD was defined based on a questionnaire and endoscopy, including erosive esophagitis and non-erosive reflux disease (NERD).

Results: A total of 54 subjects (male:female = 33:21) with mean age of 46.0 ± 11.4 years were analyzed. The mean VSCs values were not significantly different between presence and absence of self-conscious halitosis (P = 0.322), but significantly different be-tween presence and absence of informed halitosis (P = 0.021). Informed halitosis was associated with objective halitosis (P = 0.039). GERD, erosive esophagitis and NERD did not correlate with objective halitosis (P = 0.556, 0.206 and 0.902, re-spectively). In multivariable analysis, the relationship between objective halitosis and GERD symptoms including chest pain, heart burn, acid regurgitation, epigastric pain, hoarseness, globus sensation and coughing was not significant. Besides, GERD was not associated with self-conscious halitosis, informed halitosis and objective halitosis, respectively.

Conclusions: GERD might not be associated with self-conscious, informed halitosis and objective halitosis indicated by Halimeter results. Informed halitosis could be correlated with objective halitosis determined by the Halimeter.(J Neurogastroenterol Motil 2014;20:483-490).

Keywords: Gastroesophageal reflux; Halitosis; Questionnaires.