Vocal symptoms among diabetes mellitus patients

Abstract

Diabetes patients is significantly increasing in Bangladesh and vocal symptoms are common in the T2DM patients due to poor glycemic control and neuropathy. The purpose of this study was to identify whether voice symptoms were present among diabetes patients. The study was carried out by using a cross-sectional survey design and using purposive sampling. The total respondent of the survey was 143 and it took place in 3 hospitals. In the survey, among 143 participants 75.5% (108) participants were vocally healthy person and 24.5% (35) participants were with vocal symptoms. Most of the patients were aged 32.9% (47) participate in 55-64years, 28.00% (40) participants around 35-44 years, 23.1% (33) participants were 45-54 years, 16.1% (23) participants were around 65+ years. (35-44) and (55-64) aged people faced more vocal symptoms. The survey also found that 65.7% (94) of the 206 participants are female and 34.3% (49) are male. This study found a substantial connection between gender and vocal symptoms. VoiSS determined that 35 of the total participants had vocal symptoms. There was no relation found between age, duration of disease, smoking, alcohol consumption, glycemic control, neuropathy and reflux history. The study also found that diabetes patients who have vocal symptoms have faced more physical and impairment-related vocal symptoms compare to emotional related symptoms according to VoiSS questionnaire subdomains. The physical-related symptoms that were mostly experienced were sore throat, cough, phlegm, and the blocking of the nose. As well as the impairment related most experienced symptoms were hoarse, strain, creaky, and dry voice, difficulty in raising voice, competing with background noise and singing, and emotional related symptoms were depression, nervousness, irritation, and stress. However, it is high time for people with diabetes patients and other voice build concern about their voice health, taking steps to lower their glucose levels and maintain good vocal hygiene Key words: Vocal Symptoms, Diabetes Mellitus, Glycemic Control, Neuropathy.