Quality of life measures and predictors for adults with unilateral vocal cord paralysis.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the quality of life (QoLF) status of Taiwanese adults with unilateral vocal cord paralysis (UVCP).


METHODS
A prospective, QoLF survey in a tertiary referral voice center.


METHODS
Fifty-five consecutive UVCP patients were evaluated with Medical Outcome Study Short Form-36 (SF-36) Health Survey and the voice outcome survey at entry.


RESULTS
UVCP patients have significantly lower scores in all eight SF-36 subscales (P < .05) than do normative Taiwan adult population, particularly in role functioning-physical problems, social functioning, and role functioning-emotional problems. Shimmer parameter is a robust and consistent predictor for bodily pain (beta = -20.8), role functioning-emotional problems (beta = -27.9), and social functioning (beta = -20) general health dimensions. Shimmer is also predictive of UVCP-related total voice outcome survey score (beta = -8.6, P < .05).


CONCLUSIONS
UVCP can seriously compromise phonation, swallowing, and social functions; thus significantly impacting a patient's general health status. Voice physiological function is also a QoLF outcome indicator.
Fang
Tuan-Jen
TJ
Department of Otolaryngology, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Keelung, Taiwan.
Li
Hsueh-Yu
HY
Gliklich
Richard E
RE
Chen
Ya-Hui
YH
Wang
Pa-Chun
PC
Chuang
Hsiu-Feng
HF
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011788:Quality of Life; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014826:Vocal Cord Paralysis / Q000209:etiology; D014833:Voice Quality