Relationship between vocal, acoustic and quality of life evaluation in women with the different grade of Reinke’s edema

Abstract

Introduction: Reinke’s edema is characterized by a chronic inflammatory process that affects the superficial layer of the lamina propria of the vocal fold. Currently, its etiology is attributed to smoking associated with vocal abuse. Objective: To relate data of vocal, acoustic and quality of life evaluation in women with the different grade of Reinke’s edema. Method: It is an observational, analytical and crosssectional study. Participants were 22 women, aged between 45 and 78 years old (mean 58.3 years), who passed by laryngology evaluation to observe the variables regarding of edema´s degree and the association with other laryngeal disorders; auditory-perceptual evaluation of voice; acoustic voice data analysis; and vocal self-assessment by Voice-Related Quality of Life protocol (VRQOL). Laryngological data and vocal samples were analyzed by expert judges. Data were statistically analyzed. The subjects were grouped into two groups: Group 1 (G1) (grade 1 of edema) and Group 2 (G2) (grades 2 and 3 of edema). Results: G2 had worse results than G1 in all associations: more vocal symptoms; higher degree of vocal deviation in auditoryperceptual evaluation; more abnormal results in acoustic measurements (jitter, shimmer and glottal to noise excitation ratio; lower values in all domains of VRQOL, indicating worse quality of life. Conclusions: The laryngeal data related to the progression of Reinke’s edema are directly related to worsening of auditoryperceptual and acoustic data of voice and a greater negative impact of dysphonia in quality of life.