Jackie Gartner-Schmidt1, Clark Rosen. 1. University of Pittsburgh Voice Center, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, Department of Otolaryngology, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA. jgs@pitt.edu
Abstract
OBJECTIVES/HYPOTHESIS: To characterize perceived voice handicap of patients diagnosed with vocal fold atrophy and review treatment success. STUDY DESIGN: Retrospective study. METHODS: Two hundred seventy-five patients diagnosed with vocal fold atrophy (January 2007-January 2009) were reviewed from a preexisting clinical database. Outcome measures included pre/post-treatment Voice Handicap Index-10 and data from a voice therapy discharge survey. RESULTS: Five groups emerged from the data set. Group A: patients who had no follow-up (69%). After removing group A from the data set, the following groups emerged: group B: patients who had no treatment but some follow-up (31%); group C: patients who had voice therapy only (44%); group D: patients who had surgery only (15%); and group E: patients who had voice therapy first and subsequent surgery (9%). The perceived voice handicap severity was worse for groups C and D compared to groups A, B, and E. Treatment success outcomes showed that groups C (36%), D (56%), and E (17%) only improved marginally. However, 81% of patients diagnosed with atrophy believed that voice therapy helped them but only by 48%. CONCLUSIONS: Treatment success for age-related vocal fold atrophy is poor to moderately poor for this cohort of patients.
OBJECTIVES/HYPOTHESIS: To characterize perceived voice handicap of patients diagnosed with vocal fold atrophy and review treatment success. STUDY DESIGN: Retrospective study. METHODS: Two hundred seventy-five patients diagnosed with vocal fold atrophy (January 2007-January 2009) were reviewed from a preexisting clinical database. Outcome measures included pre/post-treatment Voice Handicap Index-10 and data from a voice therapy discharge survey. RESULTS: Five groups emerged from the data set. Group A: patients who had no follow-up (69%). After removing group A from the data set, the following groups emerged: group B: patients who had no treatment but some follow-up (31%); group C: patients who had voice therapy only (44%); group D: patients who had surgery only (15%); and group E: patients who had voice therapy first and subsequent surgery (9%). The perceived voice handicap severity was worse for groups C and D compared to groups A, B, and E. Treatment success outcomes showed that groups C (36%), D (56%), and E (17%) only improved marginally. However, 81% of patients diagnosed with atrophy believed that voice therapy helped them but only by 48%. CONCLUSIONS: Treatment success for age-related vocal fold atrophy is poor to moderately poor for this cohort of patients.
Authors: Emke M J M van den Broek; Bas J Heijnen; Martine Hendriksma; Antonius P M Langeveld; Peter Paul G van Benthem; Elisabeth V Sjögren Journal: Eur Arch Otorhinolaryngol Date: 2019-03-11 Impact factor: 2.503