The prevalence of dysphonia and dysphagia in patients affected by immunomediated diseases and the role of psychometric tests

AbstractThis cross-sectional investigation examined the prevalence and severity of dysphonia, globus pharyngeus, and dysphagia in patients affected by immunomediated (IM) diseases. Seventy subjects were administered theVoice Handicap Index (VHI) (scale 0 –4),Glasgow-Edinburgh Throat Scale (GETS) (scale from 0 to 7) for globus pharyngeus assessment, and modifiedSwallowing Outcomes After Revised Laryngectomy (SOAL) (scale 0, 1, 2) to test swallowing symptoms. VHI: the mean percentage of answers with a score greater than 1 (corresponding to a frequency of situation ’s occurrence “sometimes,” “almost always,” or “always”) was 25.7, 26.7, and 44.1% for functional, emotional, and physical groups of sub-items respectively. GETS: the mean percentage of answers with a score ≥ 3 was 60.85%, significantly higher if compared with that of answers with a score<  3 (40.14%). The mean percentages of answers with a score 0–2, 3–4, and 5–7 were 40.1, 16.7, and 43.7% respectively. SOAL: a mean of 57.9% of answers gained a symptomatic score (1 [“a little”] or 2 [“a lot”]) and 41.9%, the score 0. The difference was statistically significant (p <  0.05). The first two most recurrent items with a score 2 (“a lot”) were “Do you have a problem swallowing dry food?” (46%) and “Do you have a problem swallowing solid food?” (36%). The study represents the first to describe the globus pharyngeus symptoms in IM population. Moreover, it allows to co...
Source: Clinical Rheumatology - Category: Rheumatology Source Type: research