Delayed Presentation of Patients with Hoarseness in Our Population: Causative Factors

Aim and background: A retrospective analysis to identify and study the various factors that are responsible for delayed presentation of patients with hoarseness to seek otorhinolaryngological consultation in a tertiary care hospital.Materials and methods: Records of patients who presented with and were managed for hoarseness at our hospital during the period from March 2023 to October 2024 were analyzed.The time duration between the onset and presentation, occupation, any prior medications or medical referral sought, their VHI (voice handicap index), VQE (voice quality estimate) estimation, diagnosis, and treatment given were analyzed.Patients were divided into two groups-early presentation (those presenting within 4 weeks of onset of hoarseness) and late presentation (those presenting after 4 weeks).A statistical correlation was done between the two groups and various factors, such as the occupation, healthseeking behavior, VHI, VQE, and the pathology.Results: A total of 48 patients matching the inclusion criteria were included in the study.Out of these, 18 patients (37.5%) presented early, and 30 patients (62.5%) presented late.A statistically significant correlation was found between the occupation of patients and the time of presentation (early vs late).Similarly, a statistically significant correlation was also found between the health-seeking behavior of the patients and the time of presentation.However, no significant correlation was found with VHI, VQE, and the type of pathology and the time of presentation. Conclusion:A majority of patients with hoarseness present late to an otolaryngologist for a definitive management.It might put the patients with sinister pathologies (e.g., glottic carcinoma) at risk due to delay in treatment.An inappropriate health-seeking behavior plays an important role in this delay.