Vocal fold motion impairment following stroke: SPARCS database analysis.

Area of Science:

• Neurology
• Otolaryngology
• Public Health

Background:

• Vocal fold motion impairment (VFMI) is a known complication following stroke.
• The incidence and specific risk factors for post-stroke VFMI remain largely unknown.
• Understanding these factors is crucial for timely diagnosis and management.

Purpose of the Study:

• To determine the incidence of VFMI in adult stroke patients.
• To identify demographic and comorbidity-related risk factors associated with post-stroke VFMI.

Main Methods:

• Utilized the 2016-2023 New York State SPARCS database for adult stroke patients (ICD-10 codes I63.x, I61.x, I60.x).
• Employed chi-square tests for univariate analysis and multivariable logistic regression to identify risk factors.
• Analyzed patient demographics and comorbidities to assess odds ratios for developing VFMI.

Main Results:

• Identified 1,473 cases of VFMI (0.4%) among 417,149 stroke patients.
• Unilateral VFMI was the most common type (65.8%).
• Chronic pulmonary disease (OR 1.32) and coagulation disorders (OR 1.49) were significantly associated with increased odds of VFMI.

Conclusions:

• VFMI is an infrequent complication post-stroke, observed in 0.4% of cases.
• Chronic pulmonary disease and coagulation disorders are identified as significant risk factors.
• Further investigation is warranted to enhance early detection and intervention strategies for VFMI in stroke patients.