ETIOLOGICAL FACTORS FOR VOCAL FOLD POLYP FORMATION

• Main Authors: DAŠA GLUVAJIĆ, IRENA HOČEVAR BOLTEŽAR
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Slovenian Medical Association 2016-05-01
• Series: Zdravniški Vestnik
• Subjects: vocal fold, polyp, hoarsness, smoking, gastroesophageal reflux, voice load
• Online Access: http://vestnik.szd.si/index.php/ZdravVest/article/view/1403
• ISSN: 1318-0347; 1581-0224

<p><strong>Background:</strong> Vocal fold polyp is one of the most common causes for hoarseness. Many different etiological factors contribute to vocal fold polyp formation. The aim of the study was to find out whether the etiological factors for polyp formation have changed in the last 30 years.</p><p><strong>Methods:</strong> Eighty-one patients with unilateral vocal fold polyp were included in the study. A control group was composed of 50 volunteers without voice problems who matched the patients by age and gender. The data about etiological factors and the findings of phoniatric examination were obtained from the patients' medical documentation and from the questionnaires for the control group. The incidence of etiological factors was compared between the two groups. The program SPSS, Version 18 was used for statistical analysis.</p><p><strong>Results:</strong> The most frequent etiological factors were occupational voice load, GER, allergy and smoking. In 79% of patients 2 – 6 contemporary acting risk factors were found. Occupational voice load (p=0,018) and GER (p=0,004) were significantly more frequent in the patients than in the controls. The other factors did not significantly influence the polyp formation.</p><p><strong>Conclusions:</strong> There are several factors involved simultaneously in the formation of vocal fold polyps both nowadays and 30 years ago. Some of the most common factors remain the same (voice load, smoking), others are new (GER, allergy), which is probably due to the different lifestyle and working conditions than 30 years ago. Occupational voice load and GER were significantly more frequently present in the patients with polyp than in the control group. Regarding the given results it is important to instruct workers with professional vocal load about etiological factors for vocal fold polyp formation.</p>