Correlation Between Body Mass Index and Self-Reported Voice Handicap in Patients with Diabetes Mellitus Type II

To investigate self-reported voice handicap in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and the link between obesity and voice handicap.

Cross-sectional.

All patients who presented to the endocrinology clinic between July 2024 and January 2025 and were diagnosed with T2DM were invited to participate in this study. A control group was matched by age and gender. Demographic data included age, gender, history of smoking, allergy, reflux disease, and HbA1c. Obesity was assessed using Body Mass Index (BMI). Voice was assessed using the Voice Handicap Index (VHI-10) score and the Visual Analog Scale (VAS).

One hundred diabetics and 100 controls were included in the study. The mean age was 51.23 ± 8.75 years. The mean duration of the disease was 4.93 ± 4.90 years, and the mean HbA1c level was 7.02 ± 1.28. The mean BMI in the diabetic and control groups was 27.21 ± 4.63 kg/m² and 27.45 ± 4.31 kg/m², respectively. There was no significant difference in the mean VHI-10 score between diabetics and controls (1.73 ± 3.10 vs 1.55 ± 2.64). There was no significant difference in the mean VHI-10 scores between the subgroups in each of the BMI categories There was also no significant difference in the mean VAS score between diabetics and controls (0.59 ± 1.38 vs 0.57 ± 1.42). There was no correlation between BMI and the VHI-10 score, and a weak positive correlation between BMI and VAS (r = 0.121) in the diabetic group.

Results showed a low prevalence of voice complaints in T2DM compared to controls, and also a lack or poor correlation between BMI and self-reported hoarseness in patients with T2DM, meaning that BMI is not a risk factor for hoarseness in diabetic patients.