title: Voice Disorders in Older Adults Living in Nursing Homes: Prevalence and Associated Factors.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To estimate the prevalence and the associated factors with voice disorders (VDs) in older adults living in nursing homes.
  
  
  METHODS
  Cross-sectional.
  
  
  METHODS
  A sample of 117 Brazilian individuals of both sexes and preserved cognitive function, aged >59 years, living in 10 nursing homes, was studied. VDs were screened using the validated tool "Rastreamento de Alterações Vocais em Idosos" (RAVI-Screening for Voice Disorders in Older Adults). Associated factors included variables related to socioeconomic and demographic profile; nursing home; general health; ear, nose, and throat conditions; lifestyle; functionality; and psychosocial status. Bivariate analysis was performed by Pearson's chi-square or Fisher's exact test. Multivariate analysis was performed by multiple binomial regression. The significance level was 5%.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The prevalence of VDs was 39.3% (95% confidence interval [CI] = 30.4-48.1). There was no significant difference in prevalence according to age and sex. Multivariate analysis revealed that the prevalence of VDs were independently associated with anxiety symptoms (prevalence ratio [PR] = 1.97, 95% CI = 1.17-3.29), smoking (PR = 1.56, CI = 1.02-2.38), general daily inactivity (PR = 1.62, CI = 1.10-2.38), temporomandibular disorder (PR = 1.68, CI = 1.11-2.54), choking (PR = 1.53, CI = 1.06-2.20), and self-reported hearing loss (PR = 1.52, CI = 1.04-2.21).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  VDs are common among older adults with preserved cognitive function living in nursing homes. The associated factors with VDs in this population can be prevented, diagnosed, controlled, or treated. Screening procedures and early intervention should be considered.
authors.affiliation: Department of Speech, Language and Hearing Sciences, Federal University of Paraíba (UFPB), Paraíba, Brazil. Electronic address: leandroape@globo.com.
authors.forename: Leandro
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Pernambuco
authors.affiliation: Customer Service and Drug Addiction Prevention, Public Health Agency of Barcelona (ASPB), Barcelona, Spain; School of Psychology, Department of Psychobiology and Methodology of Health Sciences, Autonomous University of Barcelona (UAB), Bellaterra, Spain; Carlos III Health Institute, CIBER in Epidemiology and Public Health, Madrid, Spain.
authors.forename: Albert
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Espelt
authors.affiliation: Post-Graduate Program in Public Health (PPGSCol-UFRN), Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte (UFRN), Rio Grande do Norte, Brazil.
authors.forename: Amanda C B
authors.initials: ACB
authors.lastname: Góis
authors.affiliation: Post-Graduate Program in Public Health (PPGSCol-UFRN), Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte (UFRN), Rio Grande do Norte, Brazil.
authors.forename: Kenio Costa
authors.initials: KC
authors.lastname: de Lima
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001938:Brazil / Q000453:epidemiology; D015897:Comorbidity; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009735:Nursing Homes / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D015995:Prevalence; D014832:Voice Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology*
keywords: Aging; Nursing homes; Prevalence; Voice; Voice disorders