title: Association between Obesity and Chronic Laryngitis in Women--Data from the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  This study aimed to investigate the relationship between obesity and chronic laryngitis in South Korea using data from the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Surveys (KNHANES) collected during 2008-2010.
  
  
  METHODS
  KNHANES was a cross-sectional survey of the civilian, non-institutionalized population of South Korea (n = 13,819). Obesity status was measured by using BMI and waist circumference.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Among the population over 19 years of age, the prevalence of chronic laryngitis was 4.0 ± 0.4%. Chronic laryngitis was significantly associated with age, BMI, waist circumference, fat proportion, both systolic and diastolic blood pressure, fasting blood sugar, triglycerides, and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol in women. Old age and current smoking were significantly associated with chronic laryngitis in men. Obese women were at a higher risk for chronic laryngitis than women without obesity (odds ratio (OR) 2.022, 95% confidence interval (95% CI) 1.412-2.895) after further adjustment for confounders. Women with abdominal obesity were also at higher risk for chronic laryngitis (OR 1.475, 95% CI 1.024-2.126).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Obese women in Korea have an elevated risk for developing chronic laryngitis. Further epidemiological and experimental studies are necessary to clarify the impact of obesity on this condition.
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, College of Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea, Seoul, South Korea.
authors.forename: Young-Hoon
authors.initials: YH
authors.lastname: Joo
authors.forename: Kyung-Do
authors.initials: KD
authors.lastname: Han
authors.forename: Seong-Su
authors.initials: SS
authors.lastname: Lee
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D015992:Body Mass Index; D002908:Chronic Disease; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007827:Laryngitis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009749:Nutrition Surveys; D009765:Obesity / Q000453:epidemiology*; D056128:Obesity, Abdominal / Q000453:epidemiology; D015995:Prevalence; D056910:Republic of Korea / Q000453:epidemiology; D012737:Sex Factors; D013223:Statistics as Topic; D055815:Young Adult