A Clinical Study of 1373 Hoarseness Cases During the Past 10 Years

A clinico-statistical analysis was performed on 1373 cases who complained of hoarseness at the dept. of Otolaryngology of Ewha Womans University hospital during the past 10 years from Jan. 1975 to Dec. 1984 and the following results were obtained. 1) Among total of 44,912 who visited the dept. of Otolaryngology, the patients with hoarseness were 1373 cases(3.1%). 2) Among total of 1373 cases, male were 585 and female were 787, the ratio being 1:1.3. 3) The underlying diseases causing hoarseness in order frequency were acute laryngitis 374 cases(27.2%), chronic laryngitis 325 cases(23.7%), vocal nodule 248 cases(18.1%), vocal polyp 130 cases(9.5%), vocal cord paralysis 101 cases(7.4%), laryngeal cancer 24 cases(1.7%). 4) The highest incidence of age causing hoarseness in order frequency were 3rd decade 368 cases(26.8%), 2nd decade 312(22.7%), 4th decade 297 cases(21.6%). 5) The highest incidence of age for underlying diseases in order of frequency were as that follows: acute laryngitis in 2nd decade 114 cases(30.5%), chronic laryngitis in 3rd decade 92 cases(28.3%), vocal nodule in 3rd decade 81 cases(32.7%), vocal polyp in 4th decade 38 cases(29.2%), vocal cord paralysis in 5th decade 19 cases(18.8%), laryngeal cancer in 5th decade 13 cases(54.2%). 6) Number of the patients who came the hospital within 10 days after the onset of hoarseness were 272 cases(19.8%), 15 cases(1.1%) had medical attention for first time 10 years after hoarseness. 7) The highest incidence of the duration from the onset to consultation for the underlying diseases were as that follows: acute laryngitis within 10 days 205 cases(54.8%), chronic laryngitis 3M-6M 76 cases (23.4%), vocal nodule 3M-6M 55 cases(22.2%), vocal polyp 6M-1 Yr 32 cases(24.6%), vocal cord paralysis 3M-6M 20 cases(19.8%).