Prevalence of vocal tract discomfort in patients with voice disorders

Objective: To analyse the prevalence of vocal tract discomfort in patients with voice disorders. Method: The analytical cross-sectional study was conducted at Riphah International University, Lahore, Pakistan, from September 2020 to January 2021, and comprised voice disorder patients of either gender aged 18-65 years enrolled from Mayo Hospital, Sheikh Zayed Hospital and Jinnah Hospital, Lahore. The Vocal Tract Discomfort Scale was used for data-collection. Data was analysed using SPSS 21. Results: Of the 137 patients, 68(49.6%) were males and 69(50.4%) were females. The overall mean age was 36.36??12.47 years. The most affected age group was 18-33 years 70(51.1%) while those aged 50-65 years were the least affected 28(20.4%). The most common VTD symptom was dryness with mean frequency 3.48??1.97 and mean severity 3.36??1.99, followed by irritation 2.88??2.08 and 2.88??2.12, and lump in the throat 2.42??2.27 and 2.31??2.23, respectively. Conclusion: irritation and a in the throat were the most common of vocal tract discomfort.