title: Assessment of voice related quality of life and its correlation with socioeconomic status after total laryngectomy.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  After total laryngectomy for laryngeal cancer, the major determinants of QOL is the patient's voice related quality of life (V-RQOL). The primary aim of this study was to assess the V-RQOL and impact of socioeconomic status over it in Indian population by using two validated scales [voice handicap index (VHI) and V-RQOL questionnaires].
  
  
  METHODS
  Total 104 patients underwent total laryngectomy but 71 were eligible for study. Patients filled the VHI and V-RQOL questionnaires after completion of 1 year of usage of the TEP voice. The socioeconomic status of the patients was calculated according to various domains related to their life and were divided into lower and higher status.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 76.1% patients had VHI score between 0 to 30 (minimal voice handicap), 19.7% had score between 31 to 60 (moderate voice handicap) and only 4.2% patients had VHI score more than 61 (serious voice handicap). On V-RQOL scores, 16.9% patients had score between 10 to 15 (excellent), 40.8% patients, between 16 to 20 (very good), 22.5% patients, between 21 and 25 (good voice), 15.5% patients, between 26 and 30 (fair) and only 4.2% patients scored more than 30 with poor quality of voice. Patients with lower socioeconomic group had better V-RQOL than with high socioeconomic group.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  VHI and V-RQOL scores in our series were superior to other studies due to major population with lower socioeconomic status and better social support which exists in our society.
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology and Head, Neck Surgery, Sir Ganga Ram Hospital, Old Rajinder Nagar, New Delhi, India. drsangeetagarwal@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Sangeet Kumar
authors.initials: SK
authors.lastname: Agarwal
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology and Head, Neck Surgery, Sir Ganga Ram Hospital, Old Rajinder Nagar, New Delhi, India.
authors.forename: Shweta
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Gogia
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology and Head, Neck Surgery, Sir Ganga Ram Hospital, Old Rajinder Nagar, New Delhi, India.
authors.forename: Alok
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Agarwal
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology and Head, Neck Surgery, Sir Ganga Ram Hospital, Old Rajinder Nagar, New Delhi, India.
authors.forename: Rajiv
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Agarwal
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology and Head, Neck Surgery, Sir Ganga Ram Hospital, Old Rajinder Nagar, New Delhi, India.
authors.forename: Ajay Swaroop
authors.initials: AS
authors.lastname: Mathur
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007194:India; D007825:Laryngectomy / Q000009:adverse effects*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011788:Quality of Life; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D012923:Social Class; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014833:Voice Quality
keywords: TEP; Voice related quality of life (V-RQOL); socioeconomic status; total laryngectomy