title: Voice disorders in Sjögren's syndrome: Prevalence and related risk factors.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Sjögren's Syndrome (SS) is an autoimmune disease that causes sicca (dryness) symptoms by affecting secretions most notably of the lacrimal and salivary glands. Voice disorders have been documented in patients with SS, but the true prevalence and relationships among possible contributing factors remain unknown. This preliminary epidemiological investigation examined prevalence and risk factors for voice disorders in SS.
  
  
  METHODS
  Self-report epidemiological questionnaire.
  
  
  METHODS
  One hundred and one (101) patients with SS (94 females, 7 males; M age = 59.4 years; standard deviation [SD] = 14.1 years) completed an extensive interview using a previously validated questionnaire involving the patient's medical, family, occupational, psychosocial, social/lifestyle, voice use, and general health histories. Summary statistics, chi-squares, risk ratios, and multiple logistic regression were used to determine the frequency and severity of voice disorders in individuals with SS, as well as associations with demographic, lifestyle, health, disease severity, and voice use factors.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The prevalence of a current voice disorder in individuals with SS was 59.4%. In general, voice disorders began gradually; were chronic; and correlated with SS disease severity independent of age, sex, duration of the disease, comorbid autoimmune conditions, and use of SS-related medication. Specific voice symptoms including chronic throat dryness and soreness were significantly associated with SS disease severity.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Voice disorders are relatively common in SS and are more frequent as disease severity worsens. These findings have important implications for evaluation and treatment of patients with SS.
  
  
  METHODS
  4.
authors.affiliation: Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders, The University of Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah, U.S.A.
authors.forename: Jenny L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Pierce
authors.affiliation: Department of Communication Disorders, Brigham Young University, Provo, Utah, U.S.A.
authors.forename: Kristine
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Tanner
authors.affiliation: Department of Health Science, Brigham Young University, Provo, Utah, U.S.A.
authors.forename: Ray M
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: Merrill
authors.affiliation: Division of Rheumatology, Department of Internal Medicine, The University of Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah, U.S.A.
authors.forename: Karla L
authors.initials: KL
authors.lastname: Miller
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, The University of Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah, U.S.A.
authors.forename: Bala K
authors.initials: BK
authors.lastname: Ambati
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Division of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, The University of Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah, U.S.A.
authors.forename: Katherine A
authors.initials: KA
authors.lastname: Kendall
authors.affiliation: Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders, The University of Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah, U.S.A.
authors.forename: Nelson
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Roy
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015995:Prevalence; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D012859:Sjogren's Syndrome / Q000150:complications*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014832:Voice Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology*; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Sjögren's syndrome; epidemiology; prevalence of voice disorders; sicca symptoms