Prevalence of Voice Disorders in Singers: Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Pedro Melo Pestana; Susana Vaz-Freitas; Maria Conceição Manso

doi:10.1016/j.jvoice.2017.02.010

Prevalence of Voice Disorders in Singers: Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

J Voice. 2017 Nov;31(6):722-727. doi: 10.1016/j.jvoice.2017.02.010. Epub 2017 Mar 23.

Authors

Pedro Melo Pestana¹, Susana Vaz-Freitas², Maria Conceição Manso³

Affiliations

¹ PMP terapia - Esposende, Esposende, Portugal; Faculty of Health Sciences, University Fernando Pessoa, Porto, Portugal. Electronic address: melopestana@gmail.com.
² Faculty of Health Sciences, University Fernando Pessoa, Porto, Portugal; Speech Pathology Unit of Otolaryngology Service, Centro Hospitalar do Porto, Porto, Portugal.
³ Faculty of Health Sciences, University Fernando Pessoa, Porto, Portugal; Fernando Pessoa Energy, Environment and Health Research Unit (FP-ENAS), University Fernando Pessoa, Porto, Portugal; LAQV, REQUIMTE, University of Porto, Porto, Portugal.

PMID: 28342677
DOI: 10.1016/j.jvoice.2017.02.010

Abstract

Objective: The study aimed to review the prevalence of self-reported voice disorders in singers.

Study design: The study is a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Methods: A systematic review of five major scientific databases was conducted. An extensive search strategy was used considering the rules of each database. Original articles were included only if they had data related to self-perception of dysphonia in the past. Furthermore, heterogeneity and its relative significance were assessed.

Results: There were 2371 articles identified; duplicates were deleted, screenings were conducted, and inclusion and exclusion criteria were applied. The final analysis was conducted on 11 studies. The most implemented instruments for the study were customized questionnaires. The findings about singing styles, voice use, and age were found to be different among subjects. The overall prevalence of self-reported dysphonia in singers was 46.09% (95% confidence interval: 38.16-54.12). The heterogeneity was considerable among the studied samples (I² = 90.59%). Four groups were then established-students, teachers, classical, and nonclassical-and compared regarding overall prevalence (21.76% in students, and significantly higher and nondifferent in the other three groups, 55.15%, 40.53%, and 46.96%, respectively) and heterogeneity (low only for the students' studies).

Conclusion: Although with low homogeneity, singers present a high prevalence of self-perceived dysphonia over their careers. Singing students were the group with a lower prevalence. On the other hand, traditional and popular music singers, as well as singing teachers, revealed significantly higher prevalence of self-perceived dysphonia. Overall, singers are likely to report voice disorders, no matter their singing style or skills. This highlights the need of a preventive approach to address voice disorders in traditional and untrained singers.

Keywords: Dysphonia; Occupational health; Self-perception; Singer; Voice.

Publication types

Meta-Analysis
Review
Systematic Review

MeSH terms

Adolescent
Adult
Aged
Aged, 80 and over
Auditory Perception
Child
Child, Preschool
Female
Humans
Male
Middle Aged
Occupational Diseases / diagnosis
Occupational Diseases / epidemiology*
Occupational Diseases / physiopathology
Occupational Diseases / psychology
Occupational Health*
Occupations*
Prevalence
Risk Factors
Self Concept
Self Report
Singing*
Voice Disorders / diagnosis
Voice Disorders / epidemiology*
Voice Disorders / physiopathology
Voice Disorders / psychology
Young Adult