Abstract
BACKGROUND: Chronic pharyngitis (CP) presents a significant burden on patients' quality of life (QoL), often requiring comprehensive management strategies beyond conventional treatment modalities. This study aims to evaluate the efficacy of a multidisciplinary approach to CP treatment and its impact on patients' QoL. METHODS: We conducted a retrospective analysis of 140 patients diagnosed with CP who were treated at the ENT outpatient clinic of Private Mersin Su Hospital, Mersin, Türkiye, between January 1, 2022, and January 1, 2023. Our treatment approach integrated dietary modifications, management of gastroesophageal reflux, nasal obstruction correction, and allergy management alongside standard pharmacotherapy. The primary outcome measure was the improvement in the Sore Throat QoL Scale (STQoL) scores, assessed at baseline, 30, 60, and 90 days post treatment. RESULTS: The study population consisted of 140 chronic pharyngitis patients, including 82 male (58.57%) and 58 female (41.43%) patients, with a mean age of 42.2 ± 6.3 years. Laboratory tests revealed that 115 patients (82.14%) had iron deficiency with a mean serum level of 61.2 mg/dL (reference range: 70-180 mg/dL), while 109 patients (77.85%) had low ferritin levels (mean 55.3 mcg/L; reference range: 50-150 mcg/L). In addition, 98 patients (70.00%) showed vitamin B12 deficiency, averaging 223.6 pg/mL (reference range: 350-900 pg/mL), 128 patients (91.42%) had vitamin D deficiency, with a mean value of 29.3 ng/mL (reference range: 40-100 ng/mL), and 68 patients (48.57%) demonstrated folic acid deficiency, with an average of 6.9 ng/mL (reference range: 6-17 ng/mL). Moreover, elevated glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) levels were observed in 59 patients (42.14%) (mean 6.1%, target: 4-5.6%), and 45 patients (32.14%) had high serum total immunoglobulin E (mean 95.4 mg/dL; normal range: 20-100 mg/dL). Patient-reported outcomes using the STQoL improved markedly from a baseline score of 22.2 ± 3.2 to 57.9 ± 8.2 on day 30, 77.1 ± 13.6 on day 60, and 93.5 ± 17.3 on day 90 (all comparisons p < 0.05), indicating significant enhancement in QoL over the treatment period. CONCLUSION: The findings suggest that a multidisciplinary approach to CP treatment, addressing both the symptoms and the underlying causes, significantly improves patients' QoL. This study underscores the importance of adopting comprehensive, patient-centered treatment strategies in managing chronic pharyngitis, warranting further research into optimizing care for this common condition.