Prevalence of Dysphonia in Patients with COVID-۱۹ (review article)

Background and Objective:Coronavirus (COVID-۱۹) disease is a viral respiratory illness. Whereas most infected individuals are asymptomatic or experience mild symptoms (e.g., fever, cough and shortness of breath), ۱۰-۲۰% of patients develop acute respiratory distress syndrome. It is well known that COVID-۱۹ may severely affect the lower respiratory system, causing bilateral pneumonia that can be the cause of acute respiratory distress. Nevertheless, the upper airway can also be intensely affected by infection and lead to voice disorders. The aim of this study was to evaluate the prevalence of dysphonia, and its severity and extent, of voice fatigue in patients affected by COVID-۱۹. Search Methods:This is a review study on the databases Medline (via PubMed), google scholar, Cochrane Library, Scopus, science direct, and ProQuest using a search strategy related to the theme of the study. The selection included key words with Dysphonia, Coronavirus, COVID-۱۹, Voice and Voice fatigue published over the last ۲۰ years in English. The JBI Critical Appraisal Checklist for Analytical Cross Sectional Studies Scale was used to assess the methodology of the studies. ۱۲۱ studies were included in this review, of which three were excluded due to a low score on the JBI Scale, resulting in a final number of ۶۰ publications. Findings:Dysphonia was reported by ۱۷۱ (۴۳.۷%) patients and was positively associated with voice fatigue (P < ۰.۰۰۱), cough (P = ۰.۰۰۵) and dyspnea (P = ۰.۰۶); it was mild and/or moderate in ۳۹ patients, but its duration was > ۲ weeks. Grade and duration of dysphonia were positively associated with cough and rhinitis (all P values < ۰.۰۱). Voice fatigue was reported by ۴۳ patients (۱۰.۹۸%) and its severity was correlated with dysphonia (P < ۰.۰۰۰۱), cough (P = ۰.۰۲), rhinitis (P = ۰.۰۲), and dyspnea (P < ۰.۰۰۱).Conclusion:The high incidence of critical illness in COVID-۱۹ is a risk factor for voice disorders and it was a highly prevalent and long-lasting symptom in this series; it has been underestimated to date. Further studies might shed light on the pathophysiology of voice disorders in COVID-۱۹ patients.Key w

کلیدواژه ها:

Dysphonia ، Coronavirus ، COVID-۱۹ ، Voice and Voice fatigue