Sociodemographic and Diagnostic Characteristics of Patients with Dysphonia at a Tertiary Voice Unit in Chile: A Retrospective Study.

OBJECTIVES The aim of the study is to characterize the sociodemographic profile and describe the diagnoses of patients who consult for dysphonia at a voice unit in a University healthcare network in Chile.

METHODS We evaluated 1079 patients with dysphonia who attended the Voice Unit of a University Hospital. Parameters assessed were age, gender assigned at birth, occupation, smoking history, laryngeal diagnoses, patient-reported outcome measures scores, and Grade, Roughness, Breathiness, Asthenia, Strain, and Instability perceptual ratings.

RESULTS Of the 1079 patients with dysphonia who were included in this study, 418 were male (38.7%), and 661 were female (61.3%). The age groups were as follows: under 18 years (n = 68); 19-40 years (n = 353); 41-60 years (n = 383); and >60 years (n = 162). The predominant professions of the patients were teachers, retired individuals, and students. Smoking was reported by 17.7% patients. With regard to the etiology of dysphonia, in children (1-17 years old), cysts (n = 23;33,8%), nodules (n = 20;29,4%). In adults (18-60 years old), polyps (n = 142;19.3%), muscle tension dysphonia (MTD) (n = 107;14.5%), and vocal paralysis (n = 67;9.1%) predominated. In patients >60 years, vocal paralysis (n = 47;17%), presbylarynx (n = 30;10.9%), and vocal fold (VF) neoplasm (n = 22;8%) predominated. Based on videolaryngoscopic findings, the sample group was divided into functional dysphonia (n = 174), organic dysphonia (n = 679), and movement disorders (n = 226). The most frequently laryngeal pathologies were polyps, MTD, and VF paralysis. Organic dysphonia was more common in all age groups, and movement disorders dysphonia presented a worse voice quality and voice-related quality of life.

CONCLUSIONS In this population of 1079 patients with dysphonia, adults and women were predominant. Dysphonia had different etiologies in the different age groups studied. Cysts and nodules predominating in children, polyps and MTD in adults, and paralysis in the elderly. This is the first study in Chile that finds the prevalence in a large number of patients of all ages that consult for dysphonia in a Voice Unit in an Otolaryngology Department.