Prevalence of Dysphonia in Patients with COVID-19: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Alireza Aghaz; Arash Shahriyari; Shiva Panahiaboozar; Hossein Jadidi; Mohadeseh  Khoshgoftar; Edris Choupani; Ehsan Hemmati

doi:10.18502/jmr.v16i2.9299

Alireza Aghaz Department of Speech Therapy, School of Rehabilitation Sciences, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran.
Arash Shahriyari Department of Psychology, School of Psychology and Educational Sciences, Central Tehran Branch, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran.
Shiva Panahiaboozar Department of Psychology, Faculty of Education and Psychology, University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran.
Hossein Jadidi Department of Biostatistics, School of Health, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran.
Mohadeseh Khoshgoftar Department of Health Education and Health Promotion, School of Health, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran.
Edris Choupani Department of Biotechnology, Faculty of Allied Medicine, Iran University of Medical Science, Tehran, Iran.
Ehsan Hemmati Candidate in Neuroscience, School of Advanced Technologies in Medicine, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.

DOI: https://doi.org/10.18502/jmr.v16i2.9299

Keywords: Prevalence, Dysphonia, Voice, COVID-19, Meta-analysis, Review

Abstract

Introduction: This study aimed to estimate the prevalence of dysphonia in patients with COVID-19.
Materials and Methods: English and Persian studies that reported dysphonia in patients with COVID-19 were included. Review and case report studies were excluded. We searched Web of Science, PubMed, Google Scholar, and Scopus from January 1, 2020, to July 15, 2021. The prevalence of dysphonia was obtained by combining the results and weighing the sample sizes in the corresponding studies. Heterogeneity was evaluated using the Cochran Q test and I2
Results: Of the 1830 articles identified, 7 studies (n=1410 patients) were included in the meta-analysis. The pooled prevalence of dysphonia was 31% (%95CI: 13%-48%). The prevalence rates of dysphonia in men and women with COVID-19 were 28.2% (%95CI: 14%-46%) and 32.8% (%95CI: 22%-45%), respectively.
Conclusion: Because of the design of the included studies, the reliability of the results is limited. There was notable heterogeneity in the data, not because of publication bias, but rather the small sample sizes or the heterogeneity of the COVID-19 disease. About one-third of patients with COVID-19 may have dysphonia as the only symptom. Therefore, one should even be careful in approaching those who have only dysphonia.