Laryngeal disorders in bronchial asthma patients

Abstract Background Bronchial asthma can adversely affect an individual’s voice, impacting their quality of life. Objective to investigate voice quality in asthmatic patients in comparison to a control group. This article examines the influence of inhaled corticosteroids (ICSs) on voice changes, laryngeal examinations, and acoustic analyses. Methods This is a controlled, cross-sectional study involving 117 participants: 87 asthma patients (20 using ICSs and 67 not using ICSs) and 30 control subjects. Results The results showed that 50.5% of asthmatic patients experienced dysphonia compared to the control group. The maximum phonation time was significantly shorter. There was a statistically significant difference in the frequency of dysphonia in asthmatic patients who use steroids compared to those who do not use steroid inhalers. Abnormalities in larynx examination were significantly higher in asthmatic patients using steroids. Nodules and hyperfunctional dysphonia were more frequently observed in asthmatics not using steroids. Hyperfunctional dysphonia was the most common abnormality in asthmatics using steroids for less than 1 year, while chronic laryngitis and vocal fold bowing were the most common abnormalities in asthmatics using steroids for more than 1 year. Conclusion Bronchial asthma negatively impacts the voice and larynx, impairing maximum phonation time, VHI, jitter, and noise to harmonic ratio. ICSs are associated with increased dysphonia and negative effects on vocal fold structure and function. The duration of exposure may significantly impact the complications from inhaled therapy.