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Bueno LM, Ramos HVL, Costa CC, Alves W, Velasco LC, De Biase NG. Voice handicap and voice-related quality of life in COVID-19 patients. Braz J Otorhinolaryngol 2024; 90:101437. [PMID: 38701618 PMCID: PMC11078625 DOI: 10.1016/j.bjorl.2024.101437] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/27/2023] [Revised: 03/11/2024] [Accepted: 03/30/2024] [Indexed: 05/05/2024] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVES Identifying voice handicap and voice-related quality of life in patients presenting pulmonary impairment associated with COVID-19 infection, comparing pulmonary parameters between these patients and individuals in the control group, as well as correlating pulmonary parameters to self-assessment questionnaires (IDV-10 and QVV). METHODS Thirty-five (35) patients presenting pulmonary impairment with COVID-19 infection were herein selected and compared to 35 individuals who were not affected by COVID-19 infection. Two self-assessment questionnaires were applied (vocal handicap index and voice quality of life protocol). Maximum phonation time Forced Expiratory Pressure (PEF) and Forced Inspiratory Pressure (PIF) were measured and videolaryngoscopy was performed. RESULTS There was statistically significant difference in scores recorded in voice self-assessment questionnaires (IDV-10 and QVV), Expiratory Pressure (PEF) and Forced Inspiratory Pressure (PIF) between patients with pulmonary impairment associated with COVID-19 infection and those in the control group. Correlation between PEF/PIF and scores recorded in voice self-assessment questionnaires was also observed. CONCLUSION Pulmonary impairment associated with COVID-19 infection has worsened voice handicap and voice-related quality of life in the assessed patients, as well as reduced their forced expiratory and inspiratory pressure in comparison to the control group. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: 4
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Affiliation(s)
- Lourival Mendes Bueno
- Programa Interinstitucional de Pós-Graduação do Centro de Reabilitação e Readaptação Dr. Henrique Santillo (CRER), São Paulo, SP, Brazil; Universidade Federal de São Paulo, Escola Paulista de Medicina (UNIFESP-EPM), São Paulo, SP, Brazil.
| | - Hugo Valter Lisboa Ramos
- Programa Interinstitucional de Pós-Graduação do Centro de Reabilitação e Readaptação Dr. Henrique Santillo (CRER), São Paulo, SP, Brazil; Universidade Federal de São Paulo, Escola Paulista de Medicina (UNIFESP-EPM), São Paulo, SP, Brazil
| | - Claudiney Cândido Costa
- Programa Interinstitucional de Pós-Graduação do Centro de Reabilitação e Readaptação Dr. Henrique Santillo (CRER), São Paulo, SP, Brazil; Universidade Federal de São Paulo, Escola Paulista de Medicina (UNIFESP-EPM), São Paulo, SP, Brazil
| | - Wilder Alves
- Centro de Reabilitação e Readaptação Dr. Henrique Santillo Dr. Henrique Santillo (CRER), Goiânia, GO, Brazil
| | - Leandro Castro Velasco
- Programa Interinstitucional de Pós-Graduação do Centro de Reabilitação e Readaptação Dr. Henrique Santillo (CRER), São Paulo, SP, Brazil; Universidade Federal de São Paulo, Escola Paulista de Medicina (UNIFESP-EPM), São Paulo, SP, Brazil
| | - Noemi Grigoleto De Biase
- Universidade Federal de São Paulo, Escola Paulista de Medicina (UNIFESP-EPM), São Paulo, SP, Brazil; Pontifícia Universidade Católica de São Paulo (PUC-SP), São Paulo, SP, Brazil
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Watase T, Omiya Y, Tokuno S. Severity Classification Using Dynamic Time Warping-Based Voice Biomarkers for Patients With COVID-19: Feasibility Cross-Sectional Study. JMIR BIOMEDICAL ENGINEERING 2023; 8:e50924. [PMID: 37982072 PMCID: PMC10631492 DOI: 10.2196/50924] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/29/2023] [Revised: 09/08/2023] [Accepted: 10/06/2023] [Indexed: 11/21/2023] Open
Abstract
Background In Japan, individuals with mild COVID-19 illness previously required to be monitored in designated areas and were hospitalized only if their condition worsened to moderate illness or worse. Daily monitoring using a pulse oximeter was a crucial indicator for hospitalization. However, a drastic increase in the number of patients resulted in a shortage of pulse oximeters for monitoring. Therefore, an alternative and cost-effective method for monitoring patients with mild illness was required. Previous studies have shown that voice biomarkers for Parkinson disease or Alzheimer disease are useful for classifying or monitoring symptoms; thus, we tried to adapt voice biomarkers for classifying the severity of COVID-19 using a dynamic time warping (DTW) algorithm where voice wavelets can be treated as 2D features; the differences between wavelet features are calculated as scores. Objective This feasibility study aimed to test whether DTW-based indices can generate voice biomarkers for a binary classification model using COVID-19 patients' voices to distinguish moderate illness from mild illness at a significant level. Methods We conducted a cross-sectional study using voice samples of COVID-19 patients. Three kinds of long vowels were processed into 10-cycle waveforms with standardized power and time axes. The DTW-based indices were generated by all pairs of waveforms and tested with the Mann-Whitney U test (α<.01) and verified with a linear discrimination analysis and confusion matrix to determine which indices were better for binary classification of disease severity. A binary classification model was generated based on a generalized linear model (GLM) using the most promising indices as predictors. The receiver operating characteristic curve/area under the curve (ROC/AUC) validated the model performance, and the confusion matrix calculated the model accuracy. Results Participants in this study (n=295) were infected with COVID-19 between June 2021 and March 2022, were aged 20 years or older, and recuperated in Kanagawa prefecture. Voice samples (n=110) were selected from the participants' attribution matrix based on age group, sex, time of infection, and whether they had mild illness (n=61) or moderate illness (n=49). The DTW-based variance indices were found to be significant (P<.001, except for 1 of 6 indices), with a balanced accuracy in the range between 79% and 88.6% for the /a/, /e/, and /u/ vowel sounds. The GLM achieved a high balance accuracy of 86.3% (for /a/), 80.2% (for /e/), and 88% (for /u/) and ROC/AUC of 94.8% (95% CI 90.6%-94.8%) for /a/, 86.5% (95% CI 79.8%-86.5%) for /e/, and 95.6% (95% CI 92.1%-95.6%) for /u/. Conclusions The proposed model can be a voice biomarker for an alternative and cost-effective method of monitoring the progress of COVID-19 patients in care.
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Affiliation(s)
- Teruhisa Watase
- Gradutate School of Health Innovation Kanagawa University of Human Service Kawasaki, Kanagawa Japan
| | - Yasuhiro Omiya
- Department of Bioengineering Graduate School of Engineering The University of Tokyo Tokyo Japan
| | - Shinichi Tokuno
- Gradutate School of Health Innovation Kanagawa University of Human Service Kawasaki, Kanagawa Japan
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Tohidast SA, Fazeli F, Golmohammadi G, Scherer RC, Mansuri B. Vocal Tract Discomforts among Smokers. J Voice 2023:S0892-1997(23)00289-8. [PMID: 37914658 DOI: 10.1016/j.jvoice.2023.09.014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/04/2023] [Revised: 09/13/2023] [Accepted: 09/13/2023] [Indexed: 11/03/2023]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Smoking is a dangerous behavior for the human body and the vocal tract. Smoking can cause several laryngeal and vocal tract symptoms in smokers. One of these symptoms can be physical discomfort experienced by this population. Therefore, the aim of the present study was to investigate vocal tract discomfort (VTD) in smokers compared to healthy non-smoker participants. MATERIALS AND METHODS The smokers group was forty-eight men with a mean age of 47.54 ± 9.21 years, and the matched non-smokers group was 48 men with a mean age of 44.88 ± 10.81 years. The participants underwent vocal tract discomfort assessment using the Persian version of the VTD scale. Statistical Package for the Social Science (SPSS) was used for statistical analysis and the Mann-Whitney U test was used to compare variables between groups. RESULTS The smokers more frequently had VTD symptoms (P < 0.05) than non-smokers for all items of the VTD scale with the exception of aches. Also, smokers had more significant VTD severity in all items than non-smokers (P < 0.05). Moreover, there were significant statistical differences between the total score of both frequency and severity of VTD between smokers and non-smokers. The most to the least VTD symptoms in smokers were irritation, sore, tickling, burning, tightness, lump in the throat, dry, and aching symptoms, respectively. CONCLUSION The present study suggests that smoking can cause more physical vocal tract discomfort in smokers compared to non-smokers. These results can inform future research and interventions in the smoker population.
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Affiliation(s)
- Seyed Abolfazl Tohidast
- Neuromuscular Rehabilitation Research Center, Semnan University of Medical Sciences, Semnan, Iran
| | - Faezeh Fazeli
- Student Research Committee, Semnan University of Medical Sciences, Semnan, Iran
| | - Golnoosh Golmohammadi
- Department of Speech Therapy, School of Rehabilitation Sciences, Semnan University of Medical Sciences, Semnan, Iran
| | - Ronald C Scherer
- Distinguish Research Professor, Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders, Bowling Green State University, Bowling Green, Ohio
| | - Banafshe Mansuri
- Neuromuscular Rehabilitation Research Center, Semnan University of Medical Sciences, Semnan, Iran.
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Fischer A, Aguayo GA, Oustric P, Morin L, Larche J, Benoy C, Fagherazzi G. Co-Design of a Voice-Based Digital Health Solution to Monitor Persisting Symptoms Related to COVID-19 (UpcomingVoice Study): Protocol for a Mixed Methods Study. JMIR Res Protoc 2023; 12:e46103. [PMID: 37335611 DOI: 10.2196/46103] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/30/2023] [Revised: 04/27/2023] [Accepted: 04/28/2023] [Indexed: 06/21/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Between 10% and 20% of people with a COVID-19 infection will develop the so-called long COVID syndrome, which is characterized by fluctuating symptoms. Long COVID has a high impact on the quality of life of affected people, who often feel abandoned by the health care system and are demanding new tools to help them manage their symptoms. New digital monitoring solutions could allow them to visualize the evolution of their symptoms and could be tools to communicate with health care professionals (HCPs). The use of voice and vocal biomarkers could facilitate the accurate and objective monitoring of persisting and fluctuating symptoms. However, to assess the needs and ensure acceptance of this innovative approach by its potential users-people with persisting COVID-19-related symptoms, with or without a long COVID diagnosis, and HCPs involved in long COVID care-it is crucial to include them in the entire development process. OBJECTIVE In the UpcomingVoice study, we aimed to define the most relevant aspects of daily life that people with long COVID would like to be improved, assess how the use of voice and vocal biomarkers could be a potential solution to help them, and determine the general specifications and specific items of a digital health solution to monitor long COVID symptoms using vocal biomarkers with its end users. METHODS UpcomingVoice is a cross-sectional mixed methods study and consists of a quantitative web-based survey followed by a qualitative phase based on semistructured individual interviews and focus groups. People with long COVID and HCPs in charge of patients with long COVID will be invited to participate in this fully web-based study. The quantitative data collected from the survey will be analyzed using descriptive statistics. Qualitative data from the individual interviews and the focus groups will be transcribed and analyzed using a thematic analysis approach. RESULTS The study was approved by the National Research Ethics Committee of Luxembourg (number 202208/04) in August 2022 and started in October 2022 with the launch of the web-based survey. Data collection will be completed in September 2023, and the results will be published in 2024. CONCLUSIONS This mixed methods study will identify the needs of people affected by long COVID in their daily lives and describe the main symptoms or problems that would need to be monitored and improved. We will determine how using voice and vocal biomarkers could meet these needs and codevelop a tailored voice-based digital health solution with its future end users. This project will contribute to improving the quality of life and care of people with long COVID. The potential transferability to other diseases will be explored, which will contribute to the deployment of vocal biomarkers in general. TRIAL REGISTRATION ClinicalTrials.gov NCT05546918; https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT05546918. INTERNATIONAL REGISTERED REPORT IDENTIFIER (IRRID) DERR1-10.2196/46103.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aurelie Fischer
- Deep Digital Phenotyping Research Unit, Department of Precision Health, Luxembourg Institute of Health, Strassen, Luxembourg
- Université de Lorraine, Nancy, France
| | - Gloria A Aguayo
- Deep Digital Phenotyping Research Unit, Department of Precision Health, Luxembourg Institute of Health, Strassen, Luxembourg
| | | | - Laurent Morin
- Association ApresJ20 COVID Long France, Luce, France
| | - Jerome Larche
- Fédération des Acteurs de la Coordination en Santé-Occitanie, Hôpital La Grave, Toulouse, France
| | - Charles Benoy
- Centre Hospitalier Neuro-Psychiatrique, Ettelbruck, Luxembourg
- Universitäre Psychiatrische Kliniken Basel, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Guy Fagherazzi
- Deep Digital Phenotyping Research Unit, Department of Precision Health, Luxembourg Institute of Health, Strassen, Luxembourg
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Feltrin TD, Cielo CA, Pasqualoto AS. Relation between Orotracheal Intubation, Inflammatory Markers, Breathing and Voice in Post-COVID-19. J Voice 2023:S0892-1997(23)00070-X. [PMID: 37045738 PMCID: PMC9946891 DOI: 10.1016/j.jvoice.2023.02.015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/20/2022] [Revised: 02/13/2023] [Accepted: 02/13/2023] [Indexed: 02/25/2023]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION COVID-19, an infectious disease with a wide spectrum of clinical manifestations and intensities in the human body, it can cause respiratory and vocal disorders, with fatigue. OBJECTIVE To verify the relation between biological Inflammatory markers D-dimers and C-Reactive Protein, Forced Vital Capacity, Maximum Phonation Time, vocal performance and fatigue, length of hospitalization period and gender of people affected by COVID-19 who were hospitalized, but did not use orotracheal intubation and compare with a group of post-COVID-19 patients with orotracheal intubation. METHODS Data on D-dimers and C-Reactive Protein, spirometry, Maximum Phonation Time, performance and vocal fatigue were collected. The study included 42 adult people affected by COVID-19 who were hospitalized, 22 (52.4%) female and 20 (47.6%) male; 23 (54.8%) critical cases composing the group with orotracheal intubation (average age 48.9 years old) and 19 (45.24%) severe cases in the group without orotracheal intubation (average age 49.9 years old). RESULTS hospital length of stay was significantly longer for the group with orotracheal intubation; D-dimers were significantly altered in all groups; correlations between maximum phonation times were positive and significant; correlations between maximum phonation times, vocal performance and fatigue were both negative and significant. CONCLUSION Patients with orotracheal intubation had longer hospital internment and increased D-dimers and were amazed that, whenever maximum phonation times decreased performance and vocal fatigue increased.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thaís D Feltrin
- Department of Speech Therapy, Federal University of Santa Maria, Santa Maria, RS, Brazil.
| | - Carla A Cielo
- Department of Speech Therapy and Human Communication Disorders, Federal University of Santa Maria, Santa Maria RS, Brazil
| | - Adriane S Pasqualoto
- Department of Physiotherapy and Human Communication Disorders, Federal University of Santa Maria, Santa Maria, RS, Brazil
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Berti LC, Spazzapan EA, Queiroz M, Pereira PL, Fernandes-Svartman FR, Medeiros BRD, Martins MVM, Ferreira LS, Silva IGGD, Sabino EC, Levin AS, Finger M. Fundamental frequency related parameters in Brazilians with COVID-19. THE JOURNAL OF THE ACOUSTICAL SOCIETY OF AMERICA 2023; 153:576. [PMID: 36732219 DOI: 10.1121/10.0016848] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/28/2022] [Accepted: 12/21/2022] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
This study compares fundamental frequency (fo) and fundamental frequency standard deviation (foSD) of COVID-19 patients with the same parameters in the speech of subjects without COVID-19, and verifies whether there is an effect of age and sex in the patient group. Both groups, subjects with and without COVID-19, are formed by Brazilian Portuguese speakers. Speech samples were obtained from 100 patients with mild to severe symptoms of COVID-19, and 100 healthy subjects. A single 31-syllable Portuguese sentence was used as the elicitation material for all subjects. The recordings were divided into four age groups. The acoustic measures were semi-automatically extracted and analyzed by a series of analyses of variance. Patients with COVID-19 present vocal differences in fo-related parameters when compared to healthy subjects, that is, patient voices presented higher fo and foSD with respect to control voices. In addition, for patient voices, there was an age and sex effect on fo SD values. Vocal parameters of women and elderly subjects showed more marked differences in fo-related parameters, indicating that patient voices are higher-pitched and have a higher variation of fo SD. Consequently, fo-related parameters may be tested as vocal biomarkers in the screening of respiratory insufficiency by voice analysis, in patients with severe symptoms of COVID-19.
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Affiliation(s)
- Larissa Cristina Berti
- Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology department, São Paulo State University, Marília, São Paulo, 17525-900, Brazil
| | - Evelyn Alves Spazzapan
- Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology department, São Paulo State University, Marília, São Paulo, 17525-900, Brazil
| | - Marcelo Queiroz
- Computer Science Department, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, São Paulo state, 05508-090, Brazil
| | - Pedro Leyton Pereira
- Computer Science Department, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, São Paulo state, 05508-090, Brazil
| | | | | | | | - Letícia Santiago Ferreira
- Classic and Vernacular Letters Department, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, São Paulo state, 05508-090, Brazil
| | | | - Ester Cerdeira Sabino
- Institute for Tropical Medicine (IMT), University of Sao Paulo, São Paulo, São Paulo State, 05508-090, Brazil
| | - Anna Sara Levin
- Institute for Tropical Medicine (IMT), University of Sao Paulo, São Paulo, São Paulo State, 05508-090, Brazil
| | - Marcelo Finger
- Computer Science Department, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, São Paulo state, 05508-090, Brazil
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Aghadoost S, Molazeinal Y, Khoddami SM, Shokuhifar G, Dabirmoghaddam P, Saffari M. Dysphonia Severity Index and Consensus Auditory-Perceptual Evaluation of Voice Outcomes, and Their Relation in Hospitalized Patients with COVID-19. J Voice 2022:S0892-1997(22)00384-8. [PMID: 36642593 PMCID: PMC9712076 DOI: 10.1016/j.jvoice.2022.11.034] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/22/2022] [Revised: 11/24/2022] [Accepted: 11/28/2022] [Indexed: 12/05/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES This study aimed to compare the results of the Dysphonia Severity Index (DSI) and Consensus Auditory-Perceptual Evaluation of Voice (CAPE-V) between patients hospitalized with COVID-19 and healthy subjects, as well as to investigate the correlation between DSI and CAPE-V. STUDY DESIGN Cross-sectional survey. MATERIAL AND METHODS Eighty subjects, 40 COVID-19 patients (with a mean age of 41.2± 5.41) and 40 healthy subjects (with a mean age of 44.50± 3.50) participated in this study. Assessments included the DSI for aerodynamic-acoustic measurement and the Persian version of Consensus Auditory-Perceptual Evaluation of Voice (CAPE-V) for evaluating auditory-perceptual voice quality. Data were analyzed by means of the independent t-test and Pearson correlation at the 5% significance level. RESULTS The results showed COVID-19 patients got significantly lower score in DSI compared to healthy subjects (P < 0.05). Moreover, the patients with COVID-19 had higher scores in all categories of voice production (severity, roughness, loudness, pitch, strain and breathiness) than the healthy group (P < 0.05). Comparing the result of the two voice assessments in each group revealed that there was a greater negative significant correlation in the diseased group (r p: -0.68, P: 0.001) than in the healthy group (r p: -0.37,P: 0.049). CONCLUSIONS Hospitalized COVID-19 patients experience deviations in the voice quality and acoustic-aerodynamic features of their voice. Also, the results of this study showed the patient group had higher perceptual dysphonia and lower voice quality compared to the healthy group. Further studies are recommended to determine the relationship between objective and subjective voice evaluation in patients with COVID-19 after recovery.
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Affiliation(s)
- Samira Aghadoost
- Department of Speech Therapy, School of Rehabilitation, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Tehran, Iran.
| | - Yasamin Molazeinal
- School of Rehabilitation, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Tehran, Iran
| | - Seyyedeh Maryam Khoddami
- Department of Speech Therapy, School of Rehabilitation, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Tehran, Iran
| | - Ghazaal Shokuhifar
- Department of audiology, University of Social Welfare and Rehabilitation, Tehran, Tehran, Iran
| | - Payman Dabirmoghaddam
- Otolaryngology Research Center, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Tehran, Iran
| | - Maryam Saffari
- Department of radiology, faculty of medicine, Kashan University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Tehran, Iran
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Fischer A, Elbeji A, Aguayo G, Fagherazzi G. Recommendations for Successful Implementation of the Use of Vocal Biomarkers for Remote Monitoring of COVID-19 and Long COVID in Clinical Practice and Research. Interact J Med Res 2022; 11:e40655. [PMID: 36378504 PMCID: PMC9668331 DOI: 10.2196/40655] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/30/2022] [Revised: 09/30/2022] [Accepted: 10/18/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
The COVID-19 pandemic accelerated the use of remote patient monitoring in clinical practice or research for safety and emergency reasons, justifying the need for innovative digital health solutions to monitor key parameters or symptoms related to COVID-19 or Long COVID. The use of voice-based technologies, and in particular vocal biomarkers, is a promising approach, voice being a rich, easy-to-collect medium with numerous potential applications for health care, from diagnosis to monitoring. In this viewpoint, we provide an overview of the potential benefits and limitations of using voice to monitor COVID-19, Long COVID, and related symptoms. We then describe an optimal pipeline to bring a vocal biomarker candidate from research to clinical practice and discuss recommendations to achieve such a clinical implementation successfully.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aurelie Fischer
- Deep Digital Phenotyping Research Unit, Department of Precision Health, Luxembourg Institute of Health, Strassen, Luxembourg
| | - Abir Elbeji
- Deep Digital Phenotyping Research Unit, Department of Precision Health, Luxembourg Institute of Health, Strassen, Luxembourg
| | - Gloria Aguayo
- Deep Digital Phenotyping Research Unit, Department of Precision Health, Luxembourg Institute of Health, Strassen, Luxembourg
| | - Guy Fagherazzi
- Deep Digital Phenotyping Research Unit, Department of Precision Health, Luxembourg Institute of Health, Strassen, Luxembourg
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Gölaç H, Atalık G, Özcebe E, Gündüz B, Karamert R, Kemaloğlu YK. Vocal outcomes after COVID-19 infection: acoustic voice analyses, durational measurements, self-reported findings, and auditory-perceptual evaluations. Eur Arch Otorhinolaryngol 2022; 279:5761-5769. [PMID: 35666319 PMCID: PMC9169446 DOI: 10.1007/s00405-022-07468-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/08/2022] [Accepted: 05/23/2022] [Indexed: 02/01/2023]
Abstract
PURPOSE The ongoing literature suggests that COVID-19 may have a potential impact on voice characteristics during the infection period. In the current study, we explored how the disease deteriorates different vocal parameters in patients who recovered from COVID-19. METHODS A total of 80 participants, 40 patients with a prior history of COVID-19 (20 male, 20 female) with a mean age of 39.9 ± 8.8 (range, 21-53) and 40 gender and age-matched healthy individuals (mean age, 37.3 ± 8.8; range, 21-54) were included to this study. The data of acoustic voice analyses, durational measurements, patient-reported outcomes, and auditory-perceptual evaluations were compared between the study group and the control group. Correlation analyses were conducted to examine the association between the clinical characteristics of the recovering patients and measured outcomes. RESULTS Maximum phonation time (MPT) and the scores of both Voice Handicap Index-10 (VHI-10) and Voice-Related Quality of Life (V-RQOL) questionnaires significantly differed between the groups, which was more evident in female participants. The overall severity score of dysphonia was found to be higher in the study group than the control group (p = 0.023), but gender-based comparisons reached significance only in males (p = 0.032). VHI-10 and V-RQOL revealed significant correlations with the symptom scores of the disease. CONCLUSIONS Patients with a prior history of COVID-19 had significantly lower MPT, increased VHI-10 scores, decreased voice-related quality of life based on the V-RQOL questionnaire, and higher overall severity scores in the auditory-perceptual evaluation. Self-reported voice complaints disclosed close relationships with the symptom scores of COVID-19 disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hakan Gölaç
- grid.25769.3f0000 0001 2169 7132Faculty of Health Sciences, Department of Speech and Language Therapy, Gazi University, Ankara, Turkey ,Emek mah, Bişkek Cad. 6, Cad. (Eski 81. Sokak) No. 2, 06490 Çankaya/Ankara, Turkey
| | - Güzide Atalık
- grid.25769.3f0000 0001 2169 7132Faculty of Health Sciences, Department of Speech and Language Therapy, Gazi University, Ankara, Turkey
| | - Esra Özcebe
- grid.14442.370000 0001 2342 7339Faculty of Health Sciences, Department of Speech and Language Therapy, Hacettepe University, Ankara, Turkey
| | - Bülent Gündüz
- grid.25769.3f0000 0001 2169 7132Faculty of Health Sciences, Department of Audiology, Gazi University, Ankara, Turkey
| | - Recep Karamert
- grid.25769.3f0000 0001 2169 7132Faculty of Medicine, Department of Otolaryngology and Audiology Subdivision, Gazi University, Ankara, Turkey
| | - Yusuf Kemal Kemaloğlu
- grid.25769.3f0000 0001 2169 7132Faculty of Medicine, Department of Otolaryngology and Audiology Subdivision, Gazi University, Ankara, Turkey
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