Presbylarynx: Does Body Muscle Mass Correlate With Vocal Atrophy? A Prospective Case Control Study

• Published in: The Laryngoscope 2021-01, Vol.131 (1), p.E226-E230
• Main Authors: Santos, Mariline, Freitas, Susana V., Dias, David, Costa, Joana, Coutinho, Miguel, Sousa, Cecília A., da Silva, Álvaro M.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Aged; Aged, 80 and over; aging; Atrophy; Body Composition; Case-Control Studies; Correlation of Data; Cross-Sectional Studies; elderly; Female; Humans; Larynx - pathology; Male; muscle mass; Muscles - anatomy & histology; Presbylarynx; Prospective Studies; vocal atrophy; Voice
• ISSN: 0023-852X; 1531-4995
• DOI: 10.1002/lary.28685

Objective To analyze the potential association between body muscle mass and presbylarynx. Methods Study performed on subjects referred to the otorhinolaryngology department in a tertiary center between January and September 2019 . Based on endoscopic findings of the larynx, the patients were subdivided into two main groups: presbylarynx versus no presbylarynx. Data regarding gender, body composition, self‐assessment of vocal complaints, and functional assessment were collected. Study Design Case control, prospective, observational and cross‐sectional. Results The study population included a total of 115 Caucasian subjects (43 males; 72 females). Presbylarynx was identified in 43 patients (37, 39%) with no statistically predilection by gender (P = .668). The mean age of the patients with presbylarynx was slightly higher, but differences between groups were not statistically significant (P = .072). Results showed an association between functional impairment (score 4 of Katz Index and score 5 of Functional Ambulation Classification) and presence of presbylarynx (P