Relationship between socio-demographic characteristics and vocal fold nodules, polyps and oedema

The aim of our study was to compare socio-demographic characteristics of vocal fold nodules, polyps and oedema. The study included patients diagnosed for the first time with vocal fold nodules, polyps and oedema at the Communication Disorders Care Center of Clinic for Otorhinolaryngology and Maxillofacial Surgery in Clinical Center of Serbia, Belgrade. Diagnosis was made on the basis of symptoms, clinical otorhinolaryngological and phoniatric examination and endovideolaryngostroboscopic findings. A self-administered questionnaire was used to collect the following data: socio-demographic status, exposure to occupational noise and air pollution, occupational voice demands, health habits, symptoms of the present voice problems and voice problems in the family. By multivariate logistic regression analyses, nodules and oedema were more frequent in women than men in comparison with polyps (p < 0.001). Patients with nodules and polyps were younger than those with oedema (p < 0.001). Patients with nodules were more frequently lecturers, singers and actors compared with polyp patients (p = 0.006), had occupational voice demands more frequently than patients with oedema (p = 0.037) and were less frequently smokers than patients with polyps (p = 0.043) and those with oedema (p < 0.001). Patients with oedema were more frequently current smokers than patients with nodules and those with polyps (p < 0.001). Hoarseness as the main symptom was more frequent among patients with nodules than among patients with polyps (p = 0.040) and those with oedema (p = 0.001).Voice problems in the family was more frequently reported by oedema patients than by patients with polyps (p = 0.005). These findings are in agreement with majority of previous studies and may be of help in investigations on the aetiology of the disease.