Increasing Prevalence of Voice Disorders in the USA: Updates in the COVID Era

Matthew R Naunheim; Elliana K DeVore; Molly N Huston; Phillip C Song; Ramon A Franco Jr; Neil Bhattacharyya

doi:10.1002/lary.31409

Increasing Prevalence of Voice Disorders in the USA: Updates in the COVID Era

Laryngoscope. 2024 Mar 25. doi: 10.1002/lary.31409. Online ahead of print.

Authors

Matthew R Naunheim^{1

2}, Elliana K DeVore^{1

2}, Molly N Huston³, Phillip C Song^{1

2}, Ramon A Franco Jr^{1

2}, Neil Bhattacharyya^{1

2}

Affiliations

¹ Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, U.S.A.
² Department of Otolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery, Massachusetts Eye and Ear, Boston, Massachusetts, U.S.A.
³ Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Washington University in St. Louis School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri, U.S.A.

PMID: 38525993
DOI: 10.1002/lary.31409

Abstract

Objective: To estimate the current prevalence of voice disorders among adults in the United States; to determine the association of individual factors with voice disorders.

Methods: The 2022 National Health Interview Survey (NHIS) was analyzed to identify adults reporting voice problems in the past 12 months. Demographics were assessed, as well as the duration, severity, and resolution of the voice problem. The relationship between voice problems, gender, lost workdays, and long COVID was investigated. A comparison to the 2012 NHIS was made to determine changes in voice disorder prevalence.

Results: 29.9 million Americans (95%CI[28.3-31.5]) annually report a voice problem, representing 12.2% of the population (95%CI[11.7-12.8%]). Overall, 26.8% and 13.2% reported the severity of their voice problem as moderate or severe, respectively. Only 5.1% (95%CI[4.3-6.0%]) of respondents sought treatment. Most voice problems were resolved within 1 week (53.0%,95%CI[50.9-55.1%]). Females were more likely than males to report a voice problem (14.4% vs. 10.0%,95%CI[13.7-15.1] and [9.3-10.7], respectively). The 17.6 million Americans with long COVID symptoms were more likely to have voice complaints than those without (21.1% vs. 11.6%,95%CI[18.9-23.5%] and [11.1-12.1%], respectively). Lost workdays were not significantly higher for those with voice disorders compared to those without (17.1 vs. 12.9 days,95%CI[12.0-22.1] and [11.0-14.8], respectively).

Conclusions: Voice problems affect approximately 1 in 8 adults in the U.S. annually, demonstrating an alarming increased prevalence since 2012 using the same survey methodology. Relatively few individuals seek care for their voice problem, despite significant self-reported impact. Further study is required regarding the impact of COVID and changes in voice use patterns on voice disorders.

Level of evidence: 3 Laryngoscope, 2024.

Keywords: COVID; dysphonia; otolaryngology; survey; vocal; voice.