Features of Mild-to-Moderate COVID-19 Patients With Dysphonia.
Jerome R Lechien, Carlos M Chiesa-Estomba, Pierre Cabaraux and 38 others
PMID 32600873WHAT IT FOUND
Self-reported voice change occurred in 188 of 702 patients with mild-to-moderate COVID-19, affecting 26.8%.
It was more common in women and smokers, and patients with voice change reported more severe cough, swallowing difficulty, and pain.
Key findings
01Dysphonia was reported by 26.8% of patients with mild-to-moderate COVID-19, with 3.7% of those experiencing complete voice loss.
02Patients with dysphonia were significantly more likely to be female and to be smokers than those without dysphonia.
03The severity of voice change was significantly associated with the severity of swallowing difficulty and the presence of cough.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for SLPs
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What it does not show
The study relied on self-reported symptoms and physician-completed questionnaires rather than objective voice assessments like laryngostroboscopy. The cross-sectional design cannot prove that COVID-19 caused the dysphonia; other factors like stress or co-infections could be involved. Patients in intensive care were excluded, so the findings do not apply to severe cases. The study did not track the duration or recovery of voice symptoms.
Declared interests
No specific funding or conflict of interest statements were provided in the text.
The easy way to misread this
Do not assume this study proves COVID-19 directly causes vocal fold inflammation or damage. The diagnosis of dysphonia was based on patient reports and symptom checklists, not on direct visualization of the larynx, and the authors note that the specific cause remains uninvestigated.