Bertelsen C, et al. - Researchers ascertained the sociodemographic characteristics and response to treatment among aging adults with voice disorders. The treatment was sought by a small percentage of older adults with voice disorders; An otolaryngologist or a speech-language pathologist treated even fewer. Symptomatic improvement was experienced by a greater percentage of those who undergo treatment vs those who did not undergo treatment. The need for greater access to and awareness of services available to older adults with voice disorders was highlighted by these trends.

Methods

• Experts conducted a cross-sectional study using the 2012 National Health Interview Survey to assess adults who reported voice disorders in the past 12 months.
• They analyzed the self-reported demographics and data regarding health care visits for voice disorders.
• They conducted a statistical analysis from March 1, 2017, to February 1, 2018.
• Self-reported voice disorders, whether or not treatment was sought, which types of professionals were seen for treatment, and whether or not the voice disorder improved after treatment were the main outcomes and measures.

Results

• Findings suggested that among 41.7 million adults in the United States 65 years or older, 4.20 million (10.1%; 2,683,199 women and 1,514,909 men; mean [SE] age, 74.5 [0.3] years) reported having voice disorders.
• As per data, 10.0% (95% CI, 8.3%-11.7%) of those with voice disorders, sought treatment.
• Results demonstrated that 22.1% (95% CI, 7.9%-36.3%) of individuals seeking treatment saw an otolaryngologist and 24.3% (95% CI, 10.6%-38.0%) saw a speech language pathologist.
• By controlling for race/ethnicity, income, sex, and geography, they noted a less likeliness of men to report voice disorders than women (36.1% [95% CI, 31.7%-40.5%] vs 63.9% [95% CI, 59.5%-68.3%]; odds ratio, 0.70; 95% CI, 0.57-0.86).
• A significant association of race/ethnicity, income, and geography was not seen with the likelihood that an individual 65 years or older reported voice disorders.
• Authors noted that improvement in symptoms was reported by a greater percentage of elderly adults seeking treatment than not seeking treatment (32.4%; 95% CI, 17.9%-47.0% vs 15.6%; 95% CI, 10.4%-20.8%).
• They found that among adults treated for a voice disorder, improvement in symptoms with treatment was reported by a lower proportion of adults 65 years or older compared with adults younger than 65 years (32.4%; 95% CI, 17.9%-47.0% vs 56.0%; 95% CI, 42.5%-69.6%).