Videostroboscopic characteristics of young adult female smokers vs. nonsmokers

The purpose of this study was to provide a foundation of information concerning the early effects of smoking on the laryngeal structures and phonatory physiology of young adult women using videostroboscopy.

Cross-sectional, observational.

Subjects were 34 female nonsmokers and 30 female smokers (Total N=64) between the ages of 18 and 30 years of age. For the purposes of this study, a smoker was defined as any subject who, at the time of this study, had smoked at least two cigarettes per day for at least 1 year. All subjects in the nonsmoker category were those who, at the time of this study, did not smoke and who had not smoked for at least 5 years before the study. Videostroboscopic evaluations were rated by experienced judges on various parameters describing the structure and function of the laryngeal mechanism during comfortable pitch and loudness phonations.

Results showed significant relationships between smoking and the increased presence of edema, erythema, and abnormal laryngeal color. In addition, smokers were observed to have significantly more occurrences of abnormal phase symmetry and increased glottal gap size during the closed phase of phonation. Glottal gap size was significantly correlated with the number of cigarettes smoked in the lifetime.

The findings of increased erythema and edema in this study are consistent with previous descriptions of the effects of smoking on laryngeal structures, whereas our observations regarding glottal gap size and phase symmetry are unique contributions derived from the stroboscopic method. The results of this study indicate that observable signs of laryngeal irritation and disturbed phonatory physiology occur even in young adults with relatively brief smoking habits.