{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,9,17]],"date-time":"2026-09-17T04:01:55Z","timestamp":1789617715420,"version":"build-2803163510"},"reference-count":0,"publisher":"Diving and Hyperbaric Medicine Journal","issue":"3","content-domain":{"domain":[],"crossmark-restriction":false},"short-container-title":["Diving Hyperb Med"],"abstract":"<jats:p>Introduction: Laryngopharyngeal symptoms (LPS) refer to aerodigestive complaints that may result from the retrograde flow of gastric contents into the upper aerodigestive tract. These symptoms may be under-recognised in populations exposed to mechanical or environmental stressors. Divers may be at increased risk due to factors such as pressure changes and body positioning. This study characterised the prevalence and severity of LPS among divers and identified associated risk factors.\nMethods: A cross-sectional, anonymous survey was distributed to members of the Divers Alert Network (DAN). Collected data included demographics, diving-related behaviours, medical history, and LPS burden measured using the Reflux Symptom Index (RSI).\nResults: Of the 309 survey responses analysed, 47.2% were male with a median age of 50.0 years (IQR: 40.0\u221260.0). Among 291 divers with complete RSI data, 26.1% (95% CI, 21.4\u201331.5%) had abnormal RSI scores, representing a +16.0 percentage-point increase (95% CI, 11.3%\u221221.4%) over non-diving population estimates (P &amp;#x0003C; 0.001). In multivariable analysis, female sex (adjusted prevalence rate [aPR] 1.59, 95% CI 1.07\u20132.37) and gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) history (aPR 1.75, 95% CI 1.16\u20132.65) were independent predictors. Recreational divers had a lower risk (aPR 0.59, 95% CI 0.39\u20130.90). Approximately 5% of respondents described their symptoms as life-threatening.\nConclusions: Divers may represent an under-recognised population at elevated risk for LPS. Female sex and GERD history were associated with greater symptom burden, while recreational diving appeared less provocative compared to technical diving. These findings may have implications for risk stratification and symptom management in the diving community.<\/jats:p>","DOI":"10.28920\/dhm56.3.309-316","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2026,9,17]],"date-time":"2026-09-17T03:02:07Z","timestamp":1789614127000},"page":"309-316","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":0,"title":["Prevalence of laryngopharyngeal reflux symptoms in divers"],"prefix":"10.28920","volume":"56","author":[{"given":"Bastien A","family":"Valencia-Sanchez","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Otolaryngology \u2013 Head and Neck Surgery, Mayo Clinic Florida, Jacksonville, FL, USA"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Natalie","family":"Weiss","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Otolaryngology \u2013 Head and Neck Surgery, Mayo Clinic Florida, Jacksonville, FL, USA"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Evelyn","family":"Echevarria Cruz","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Nova Southestern University \u2013 Kiran C. Patel College of Osteopathic Medicine, Davie, FL, USA"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Raana","family":"Zakeri","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Divers Alert Network, Durham, NC, USA, Department of Epidemiology, UNC Gillings School of Global Public Health, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, NC, USA"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Frauke","family":"Tillmans","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Divers Alert Network, Durham, NC, USA"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-7704-6328","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Amy","family":"Rutt","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Otolaryngology \u2013 Head and Neck Surgery, Mayo Clinic Florida, Jacksonville, FL, USA"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]}],"member":"11463","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2026,9,30]]},"container-title":["Diving and Hyperbaric Medicine Journal"],"original-title":[],"deposited":{"date-parts":[[2026,9,17]],"date-time":"2026-09-17T03:02:08Z","timestamp":1789614128000},"score":1,"resource":{"primary":{"URL":"https:\/\/dhmjournal.com\/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=450"}},"subtitle":[],"short-title":[],"issued":{"date-parts":[[2026,9,30]]},"references-count":0,"journal-issue":{"issue":"3","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2026,9,30]]}},"URL":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.28920\/dhm56.3.309-316","relation":{},"ISSN":["2209-1491"],"issn-type":[{"value":"2209-1491","type":"electronic"}],"subject":[],"published":{"date-parts":[[2026,9,30]]}}}