Medical comorbidities for paradoxical vocal fold motion (vocal cord dysfunction) in the military population

This study aimed to describe the demographic characteristics of patients diagnosed with paradoxical vocal fold motion (PVFM) at Walter Reed Army Medical Center (WRAMC), and to document common medical comorbidities. The military population was expected to differ from the general population because of a presumed association between high physical demands and PVFM.

Retrospective chart review of active-duty (AD) military personnel compared with a natural control group of non-AD patients.

Reports of asthma, allergy, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), and postnasal drip (consequent to chronic sinusitis) were recorded for patients referred to the Speech Pathology Clinic at WRAMC with a diagnosis of PVFM from 1996 to 2001.

The cohort consisted of 265 patients, 127 of whom were on AD status. The AD group was significantly younger and represented a narrower age range (17-53 years) than the non-AD patients (8-80 years), and had a more balanced sex ratio (1.2:1 vs 2.9:1). Eighty percent of all patients had at least one of the medical comorbidities surveyed, and 51% had two or more factors. GERD and allergies were reported most commonly by both groups; only asthma occurred significantly more in non-AD than AD patients.

PVFM referrals of AD personnel of the US military are characterized by younger patients and a smaller female:male ratio as compared with non-AD patients. Based on the preponderance of men in the military, the number of females in the AD group remained disproportionately large. Multiple medical comorbidities were commonly documented by both groups; the only significant difference was a greater prevalence of asthma in the non-AD group. These data reinforce the need for appropriate differential diagnosis in all patients.