title: Prevalence of and Sociodemographic Factors Related to Voice Disorders in South Korea.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Studies on the prevalence of and the sociodemographic factors related to voice disorders are rare. The purpose of the present study was to analyze the prevalence of voice disorders and to identify sociodemographic factors associated with an increased risk of voice disorder.
  
  
  METHODS
  A cross-sectional study was conducted using data from the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, 2008-2011. Subjects consisted of 19 636 men and women aged ≥19 years. Sociodemographic factors including occupation, level of education, health status, and economic activity were assessed by means of individual interviews, and health behaviors such as smoking and alcohol consumption and subjective voice problems were assessed with the use of self-administered questionnaires. Laryngology interviews and vocal fold examinations were also conducted.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The prevalence of voice disorders was 8.12% (n = 1594). Subjective perception of the presence of voice problems was significantly higher in individuals with vocal nodules and vocal polyps (27.7% and 23.0%, respectively; P < 0.001). Among sociodemographic factors and health behaviors, voice disorders were found to be associated with age, gender, education level, and health status (P < 0.05) but were not associated with occupation, household income, smoking, or alcohol consumption.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The results of this large epidemiologic study provide valuable information regarding the prevalence of voice disorders, and the specific data regarding sociodemographic factors and health behaviors suggest potential ways of targeting counseling and prevention efforts to control voice disorders.
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Gyeongsang National University Hospital, Jinju, South Korea; College of Nursing, Gyeongsang National University, Jinju, South Korea.
authors.forename: Kyung Hee
authors.initials: KH
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.affiliation: Regional Cardiocerebrovascular Center, Dong-A University Hospital, Busan, South Korea.
authors.forename: Rock Bum
authors.initials: RB
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Gyeongsang National University Hospital, Jinju, South Korea.
authors.forename: Dong Uk
authors.initials: DU
authors.lastname: Hwang
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Gyeongsang National University Hospital, Jinju, South Korea.
authors.forename: Sung Jun
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Won
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Gyeongsang National University Hospital, Jinju, South Korea; Institute of Health Sciences, Gyeongsang National University, Jinju, South Korea. Electronic address: lesaby@hanmail.net.
authors.forename: Seung Hoon
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Woo
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D015438:Health Behavior; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015995:Prevalence; D056910:Republic of Korea / Q000453:epidemiology; D012307:Risk Factors; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D013997:Time Factors; D014827:Vocal Cords / Q000503:physiopathology; D014832:Voice Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D014833:Voice Quality; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Nodule; Polyp; Prevalence; Sociodemographic factor; Voice disorder