Laryngeal pathologies in older Korean adults and their association with smoking and alcohol consumption.

OBJECTIVES/HYPOTHESIS: This study's objectives were to assess the prevalence rate of laryngeal pathologies in the Korean elderly, and to examine the association of smoking and alcohol consumption with laryngeal diseases.

STUDY DESIGN

Cross-sectional study.

METHODS

Data were from the 2008 Korea National Health and Nutritional Examination Survey. Subjects were 663 elderly persons (261 men and 402 women) between the ages of 65 and 84 years who completed the laryngoscopic examination. Weighted prevalence of laryngeal pathologies was compared by demographic characteristics, smoking, alcohol drinking, body mass index, and self-reported voice problems. Multiple logistic regression analyses were conducted to examine the independent as well as combined influence of smoking and alcohol consumption on laryngeal lesions.

RESULTS

The prevalence of laryngeal pathologies in the Korean elderly between the ages of 65 and 84 years was 8.1%. The prevalence of laryngeal lesions increased with age and was higher among men, middle school and high school graduates, manual workers, current smokers, current alcohol drinkers, and those with self-reported voice problems. Adjusting for covariates, current smokers, compared with nonsmokers, were more likely to have laryngeal pathologies (odds ratio [OR], 2.18; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.01-4.67). Current alcohol drinking was not independently associated with laryngeal diseases. Concurrent smoking and alcohol drinking, however, were associated with a significantly higher risk of laryngeal pathologies (OR, 3.29; 95% CI, 1.22-8.88).

CONCLUSIONS

Smoking and alcohol consumption may increase the risk of laryngeal diseases in later life.