Quality of life measures and predictors for adults with unilateral vocal cord paralysis

Objective/Hypothesis: To investigate the quality of life (QoLF) status of Taiwanese adults with unilateral vocal cord paralysis (UVCP). Study Design: A prospective, QoLF survey in a tertiary referral voice center. Methods: Fifty-five consecutive UVCP patients were evaluated with Medical Outcome Study Short Form-36 (SF-36) Health Survey and the voice outcome survey at entry. Results: UVCP patients have significantly lower scores in all eight SF-36 subscales (P <.05) than do normative Taiwan adult population, particularly in role functioning-physical problems, social functioning, and role functioning-emotional problems. Shimmer parameter is a robust and consistent predictor for bodily pain (β=-20.8), role functioning-emotional problems (β=-27.9), and social functioning (β=-20) general health dimensions. Shimmer is also predictive of UVCP-related total voice outcome survey score (β=-8.6, P <.05). Conclusions: UVCP can seriously compromise phonation, swallowing, and social functions; thus significantly impacting a patient's general health status. Voice physiological function is also a QoLF outcome indicator.