[Grading of the voice-related quality of life index].

BACKGROUND

Although the voice-related quality of life (VRQOL) questionnaire has proved to be an appropriate diagnostic tool, there are no recommendations on how to grade the score. In this study the VRQOL was graded against the background of health-related quality of life.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

A total of 105 patients (56 women and 49 men) aged 49.4+/-16.1 years who presented with dysphonia of benign origin completed a German version of the VRQOL and the SF-36 health survey after giving informed consent. There was an organic disorder in 50%, in 37% a functional disorder and 13% had no disorder.

RESULTS

The only difference between the results of the VRQOL and the SF-36 was in the subscale on social functioning which showed a moderately strong (r(S)=0.40) and highly significant reduction in dysphonic patients (p<0.001). These results were therefore used as an external criterion for the graduation of the VRQOL results. The data suggest that VRQOL values of 0-40 can be classified as "clinically relevant deterioration", values of 41-80 as "no clinically relevant deterioration" and values over 80 as "normal" voice-related quality of life".

CONCLUSIONS

The suggested grading system simplifies the assessment of individual VRQOL values. Now their clinical relevance as indication and end-point parameters must be investigated.