RESEARCH - Prevalence and relative risk of dysphonia in RA

[Guest guest]

,

Thank you for this research on the larnyx. My voice has become hoarse and

remained so after this last big flare... I have worried because I do sing - now

I understand what has happened to me.... Thank you again,

Rose

---------------------------------

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[Guest guest]

Hi, Rose.

Since there are many reasons for hoarseness, you should mention it the next

time you see a physician.

Hope you'll be able to sing normally soon.

Not an MD

Re: [ ] RESEARCH - Prevalence and relative risk of

dysphonia in RA

> ,

>

> Thank you for this research on the larnyx. My voice has become hoarse and

> remained so after this last big flare... I have worried because I do

> sing - now I understand what has happened to me.... Thank you again,

>

> Rose

[Guest guest]

J Voice. 2006 Oct 28 [Epub ahead of print]

Prevalence and Relative Risk of Dysphonia in Rheumatoid Arthritis.

Speyer R, Speyer I, Heijnen MA.

Department of O.R.L. and Head and Neck Surgery, University Hospital

Maastricht, Maastricht, The Netherlands.

SUMMARY: Laryngeal involvement in rheumatoid arthritis is not uncommon and

may include cricoarytenoid arthritis or vocal fold lesions such as vocal

fold rheumatoid nodules or bamboo nodes. Dysphonia or voicing problems can

be the result of such laryngeal involvement. This cohort study investigates

the prevalence and the relative risk of dysphonia when suffering from

rheumatoid arthritis compared to that of healthy subjects. One hundred and

sixty-six subjects with rheumatic arthritis and 148 healthy control subjects

completed two quality-of-life questionnaires: the Voice Handicap Index and a

three-item outcome scale. Both instruments measure the quality of the voice

itself and the extent of impairment resulting from dysphonia as experienced

by the patient in social and occupational settings. Patients proved to have

statistically significant higher prevalence and relative risk of dysphonia.

Depending on the questionnaire being used, prevalence data of dysphonia in

patients varied between 12% and 27%, whereas the healthy subjects showed

prevalence data varying from about 3% to 8%. A patient's relative risk

varied from about 3 to 4 when compared to healthy subjects. Patients

suffering from rheumatoid arthritis have a clearly higher risk of dysphonia

compared to healthy subjects.

PMID: 17074464

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17074464

Not an MD