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.