Socioeconomic Variables of Patients with Spasmodic Dysphonia: A Preliminary Study.

[OBJECTIVES/HYPOTHESIS] To characterize socioeconomic status (SES) variables of spasmodic dysphonia (SD) patients and determine their impact on voice outcomes after treatment with botulinum toxin.

[STUDY DESIGN] Retrospective review.

[MATERIALS AND METHODS] SD patients treated with botulinum toxin for the past 10 years (July 2007-July 2017) for whom sufficient SES and outcome data were available were included. Spearman rho nonparametric correlation coefficients were calculated to determine if SES variables were significantly associated with self-perceived vocal quality. Voice Handicap Index-10 was recorded. Patients were asked at each visit to rate their best voice quality during the period of previous botulinum toxin injection on a scale of 1-10, with 10 being the best.

[RESULTS] Fifty SD patients were included. Average age was 60.3 ± 11.4 years, with men representing 24% of patients. Ethnicity was 74% Caucasian and 26% non-Caucasian. Median household income was $76,564 ± $24,782. Sixty-six percent of patients were employed. Adductor SD was diagnosed in 82% of patients and abductor SD in 12%. Best voice out of 10 was 7.23 ± 2.0. Mean Voice Handicap Index-10 score was 25.14 ± 9.4. Patients were treated with botulinum toxin for 165.9 ± 101.9 months. Age, gender, median household income, ethnicity, and employment status were not significantly associated with self-perceived vocal quality. Patients with longer disease duration self-reported a better voice (P = 0.02, r = 0.387).

[CONCLUSIONS] SES variables were not associated with voice outcomes for SD patients treated with botulinum toxin. Patients self-reported improved voice with longer duration of disease.