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Quantifying Health Utility of Age-related Vocal Atrophy.

Authors :
de Leon JA
Cvancara DJ
Carlson AL
Cheng A
Rizvi ZH
Giliberto JP
Sauder C
Bhatt NK
Source :
The Laryngoscope [Laryngoscope] 2024 Oct 26. Date of Electronic Publication: 2024 Oct 26.
Publication Year :
2024
Publisher :
Ahead of Print

Abstract

Objective: Age-related vocal atrophy (ARVA) negatively impacts voice and quality of life (QOL). This study aims to determine utility-based QOL in ARVA patients, correlate findings with traditional patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs), and generate utility-based inferences.<br />Methods: Forty ARVA patients were prospectively recruited from a tertiary care center. Health utility was measured using standard gamble, time trade-off, and visual analog scale, assessing participants' current health states relative to defined comparison states (blindness/death). Traditional PROMs (Voice Handicap Index-10 [VHI-10] and Voice-Related Quality of Life Scale [V-RQOL]) were also collected. Descriptive and paired statistics were performed to determine health utility, and Pearson correlation assessed the association between PROMs and health utilities.<br />Results: Mean health utility in ARVA was 0.84 ± 0.22, 0.88 ± 0.17, and 0.62 ± 0.25 using standard gamble, time trade-off, and visual analog scale, respectively. There were positive correlations between V-RQOL and time trade-off (r = 0.66; p < 0.0001) as well as with standard gamble (r = 0.47; p = 0.002). Participants with ARVA reported no difference in health utility impact between their voice impairment and monocular blindness (Mean dif 10.9; 95% CI -1.6, 23.5; p = 0.101). Patients with ARVA were willing to part with an average 4.6 ± 6.1 years of life to restore normal voice.<br />Conclusions: ARVA patients view their voice impairment as a significant health decrement, comparable to monocular blindness. These findings underscore the substantial impact of ARVA on QOL and highlight the need for continued research and new therapies.<br />Level of Evidence: 4 Laryngoscope, 2024.<br /> (© 2024 The American Laryngological, Rhinological and Otological Society, Inc.)

Details

Language :
English
ISSN :
1531-4995
Database :
MEDLINE
Journal :
The Laryngoscope
Publication Type :
Academic Journal
Accession number :
39460679
Full Text :
https://doi.org/10.1002/lary.31850