Shifts in relative prevalence of laryngeal pathology in a treatment-seeking population.

The prevalence of laryngeal pathology in a treatment-seeking population of southwestern Ohio underwent a 15-year reexamination. Relationships between pathology and demographic variables of age, gender, and occupation were investigated. Data were collected from 1,158 new patients seen by participating otolaryngologists between 1996 and 1998. The most frequent pathologies were reflux laryngitis, functional (including diagnoses of laryngeal myasthenia and hoarseness), vocal fold paralysis, nodules, and laryngitis. Pathologies were found to occur more often in females, with some pathologies more common to one gender. Pathologies occurred more often in the older age categories. The most common occupations found in the sample were retired persons, executives/managers, and homemakers. Comparisons were made to an earlier investigation of laryngeal pathology in the same otolaryngology practices. Differences from the previous study were noted in the prevalence of pathology and the distribution of demographic variables. Relationships between pathology and demographic variables reported by the two studies were examined for consistency.