Subjective and objective evaluation of voice quality in patients with asthma

To evaluate the voice quality in patients with mild-to-moderate asthma by subjective and objective methods.

Comparative, controlled, cross-sectional study.

Patients with mild-to-moderate asthma (n=40) and age- and sex-matched healthy controls (n=40) were included. Acoustic analyses were performed by the Multi-Dimensional Voice Program (MDVP; Kay Elemetrics Corporation, Lincoln Park, NJ) and the movements of the vocal cords were examined by videolaryngostroboscopy (VLS). In addition, the duration of illness, maximum phonation time, "s/z" values, and vital capacity were evaluated. Voice Handicap Index (VHI) and GRB scales were used for subjective evaluations.

Maximum phonation time values were significantly shorter both in male and female asthma patients compared with controls (P<0.0001). Also, average shimmer values in MDVP were higher for both sexes in the patient group compared with controls (P=0.002 and P=0.04, respectively). There was a significant difference between female patients and sex-matched controls with regard to mean noise-to-harmonic ratio values (P=0.006). Female patients with asthma had higher average jitter values compared with sex-matched controls (P<0.0001). A significant difference was noted between asthma and control groups with regard to GRB scale (P<0.0001, P<0.001, and P<0.0001, respectively). The VHI score was above the normal limit in 16 (40%), and VLS findings were abnormal in 39 (97.5%) asthmatics.

In asthmatic patients, maximum phonation time, frequency, and amplitude perturbation parameters were impaired, but the vital capacity and the duration of illness did not correlate with these findings.