Profile of voice professionals seen in a tertiary health center.
Work-related laryngopathy may have negative consequences for voice professionals.


OBJECTIVE
To analyze the profile of voice professionals seen in a tertiary level hospital.


METHODS
a longitudinal historical cohort.


METHODS
A retrospective analysis of patient files. Diagnosis was reached using videostroboscopy.


RESULTS
163 patients (119 females and 44 males) were seen. The mean age was 36.5 years. Professionals included spoken voice users (salesman, teachers, telemarketers, receptionists, health professionals) and singers. The most frequent diagnoses were: minor structural changes (33%), nodules (22%), Reinkes edema (10%), and polyps (6%). A correlation was observed between smoking, age and gender; there was an association between smoking and Reinkes edema, leucoplasia and tabagism, females and Reinkes edema, nodules and minor structural changes, and also between patients aged over 40 years and Reinkes edema, and patients under 40 with nodules, laryngitis, and minor structural changes. Symptoms lasted more than 6 months in 74% of patients.


CONCLUSIONS
The profile of voice professionals seen in a tertiary hospital included spoken voice patients and singers. In our study minor structural changes predominated, followed by nodules, Reinke edema and polyps.
Fortes
Felipe Sartor Guimarães
FS
Otorhinolaringological Clinical Division, HCFMUSP. fsgfortes@yahoo.com.br
Imamura
Rui
R
Tsuji
Domingos Hiroshi
DH
Sennes
Luiz Ubirajara
LU
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D004812:Epidemiologic Methods; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007818:Laryngeal Diseases / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis; D007828:Laryngoscopy; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009784:Occupational Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology*; D009790:Occupations / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012907:Smoking / Q000009:adverse effects; D049489:Stroboscopy; D014832:Voice Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology*