The incidence and recovery rate of idiopathic vocal fold paralysis: a population-based study.
Eur Arch Otorhinolaryngol
; 276(1): 153-158, 2019 Jan.
Article
in En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-30443781
ABSTRACT
PURPOSE:
To determine the incidence and spontaneous recovery rate of idiopathic vocal fold paralysis (IVFP) and paresis (IVFp), and the impact of steroid treatment on rates of recovery.METHODS:
This retrospective cohort study included all patients with IVFP or IVFp within a large integrated health-care system between January 1, 2008 and December 31, 2014. Patient demographics and clinical characteristics, including time to diagnosis, spontaneous recovery status, time to recovery, and treatment, were examined.RESULTS:
A total of 264 patients were identified, 183 (69.3%) with IVFP and 81 (30.7%) with IVFp. Nearly all cases (96.6%) were unilateral and 89.8% of patients were over the age of 45. The combined (IVFP and IVFp) 7-year mean incidence was 1.04 cases per 100,000 persons each year with the highest 7-year mean annual incidence in white patients (1.60 per 100,000). The total rate of spontaneous recovery was 29.5%, where 21.2% had endoscopic evidence of resolution and 8.3% had clinical improvement in their voice without endoscopic confirmation. The median time to symptom resolution was 4.0 months. Use of steroids was not linked with spontaneous recovery in multivariable analyses.CONCLUSION:
The annual incidence of VFP (IVFP and IVFp) was 1.04 cases per 100,000 persons, with spontaneous recovery occurring in nearly a third of patients, regardless of steroid use.Key words
Full text:
1
Database:
MEDLINE
Main subject:
Vocal Cords
/
Voice
/
Vocal Cord Paralysis
/
Population Surveillance
/
Recovery of Function
Type of study:
Incidence_studies
/
Observational_studies
/
Prognostic_studies
/
Risk_factors_studies
/
Screening_studies
Country/Region as subject:
America do norte
Language:
En
Journal:
Eur Arch Otorhinolaryngol
Year:
2019
Type:
Article
Affiliation country:
United States