Prevalence of Voice Disorders in Healthcare Workers in the Universal Masking COVID‐19 Era

Heider, Claudia A.; Álvarez, Matías L.; Fuentes‐López, Eduardo; González, Claudia A.; León, Norma I.; Verástegui, Daniela C.; Badía, Pedro I.; Napolitano, Carla A.

OBJECTIVES/HYPOTHESIS: To determine the prevalence and associated risk factors of voice disorders in healthcare workers of high‐risk hospital care units during the 2019 coronavirus disease (COVID‐19) pandemic. STUDY DESIGN: Cross‐sectional study. METHODS: Questionnaire survey to healthcare personnel of COVID‐19 high‐risk hospital units was conducted, regarding demographic data, clinical activity, the pattern of usage of personal protective equipment, medical and vocal history, vocal symptoms, and Spanish validated Voice Handicap Index (VHI)‐10 questionnaire. RESULTS: A total of 221 healthcare workers answered the survey. Nearly 33% of them reported having trouble with their voice during the last month, and 26.24% had an abnormal score in the Spanish validated VHI‐10 questionnaire. The mean VHI‐10 score was 7.92 (95% confidence interval 6.98–8.85). The number of working hours, the number of hours of mask daily use, simultaneous surgical and self‐filtering mask use, and working in intermediate or intensive care units were independent variables significantly associated with a higher VHI‐10 score. CONCLUSIONS: Healthcare workers of high‐risk hospital care units during the universal masking COVID‐19 pandemic are at risk of voice disorders. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: 3 Laryngoscope, 2020