Laryngeal Stenosis Among Adults in Kazakhstan During 2019-2024: A Cross-Sectional Study

To determine the prevalence of laryngeal stenosis in adult patients in Kazakhstan during 2019-2024.

A cross-sectional study analyzed laryngeal stenosis cases from Kazakhstan's National Research Center for Health Development databases (2019-2024), including patients aged 18-75+ years. Patients who underwent endoscopic microlaryngosurgery and non-ENT operations were excluded. Statistical analyses included the Wilcoxon signed-rank test for comparing annual numbers of male and female patients by region, the Kruskal-Wallis test for assessing differences in total treated patients between regions, and Dunn's post hoc test to identify specific regional differences.

The study identified 890 laryngeal stenosis cases (58.9% male, 41.1% female; ratio 1.4:1). The predominant age group was 60-74 years for men and 45-59 years for women. Regional incidence rates varied significantly, with the highest rates in North Kazakhstan (0.11‰ males, 0.05‰ females), Pavlodar (0.10‰ males, 0.03‰ females), and Astana (0.05‰ males, 0.09‰ females). The Wilcoxon signed-rank test revealed significantly higher female patient numbers in Almaty and Pavlodar regions (P = 0.0312). Kruskal-Wallis test showed significant regional differences in total treatments (χ²(19) = 75.849, P < 0.0001), with major cities having significantly higher treatment numbers than rural regions, and emergency treatments significantly exceeding planned interventions in multiple regions (P < 0.05).

The annual incidence of laryngeal stenosis is increasing significantly. Regional and sex-related differences appear to be multifactorial, reflecting improved diagnostics in northern regions (particularly Astana) and greater exposure to risk factors among men. These findings highlight the importance of vigilant clinical monitoring and preventive measures, such as standardized intubation protocols, management of comorbidities, and qualified postoperative care.