Voice changes associated with inhaled steroids 1n obstructive lung disease patients

Abstract

Background/Aims: The widespread use of inhaled corticosteroids (ICS) for the treatment of obstructive lung disease may be associated with both systemic and local side effects. These local side effects; including voice problems, oropharyngeal candidiasis, throat clearing, sense of fullness, pharyngitis, and cough, are generally viewed as minor complications of therapy in what is called steroid inhaler laryngitis (SIL). Few studies have been performed to specifically evaluate local side effects of ICS. However, they can be clinically significant, affect patient's quality of life, hinder compliance with therapy, and mask symptoms of more serious disease. The aim of this study is to examine the effect of ICS on the larynx and subsequent voice changes, and highlighting if these voice problems related to the type of inhaled corticosteroids in order to determine the importance of regular laryngeal examination in those patients. Methods: 40patients with bronchial asthma and 40 patients with COPD admitted to Chest department in Menoufia and Zagazig University Hospitals during the period from March 2017 to March 2019 were included in the study. They were divided according to the type of cortisone used into four groups; group (I): beclomethasone dipropionate (BDP) users, group (II): budesonide (BUD) users, group (III): Ciclesonide users and group (IV): fluticasone propionate (FP) users. They were evaluated as regards videolaryngoscopic examination and acoustic analysis Results: The age of the patients with bronchial asthma ranged from 29 to 42years and the age of the patients with COPD ranged from 31 to 43years. There was a statistically significant difference among the four groups of cortisone inhalation regarding laryngoscopic findings; as presence of congestion (diffuse and local), mucus spills on VF and glottis gap were all higher in frequency among the group of patients used fluticasone FP, while least signs found among ciclesonide users. Also, average pitch, Jitter, H/N ratio and MPT were more worsen in fluticasone group when compared with Ciclesonide group. Conclusion: obstructive lung disease patients may suffer from voice problems related to the type of inhaled corticosteroids that could be fade when therapy is stopped. So, regular laryngeal examination in those patients is important.