Dysphonia and throat clearing in singers during the Covid-19 pandemic in Brazil

OBJECTIVE: The COVID-19 pandemic in Brazil affected the lives of singers, with negative impacts of the disease on the voice, such as dysphonia and throat clearing. This study aims to evaluate the presence of dysphonia and throat clearing in singers during the COVID-19 pandemic in Brazil. MATERIAL AND METHODS: This is a cross-sectional analytical study with a sample of 154 singers from all over Brazil. Data collection was carried out online, by completing the questionnaire created by the researcher using Google Forms. The following were considered the outcome variables: voice impairment and throat clearing. The bivariate analysis was performed to test the relationship between COVID-19 infection and voice impairment, COVID-19 infection and throat clearing, COVID-19 infection and laryngeal complaints (voice impairment and throat clearing). RESULTS: In this study, the mean age of the singers was 35.8 (Standard deviation=±10.2 years) and 59.2% were female. Most of them worked as professional singers (81.1%) and had more than 10 years of professional experience (57.4%), mainly singing pop music (85.4%). A total of 62% reported vocal alterations during the COVID-19 infection and 53% had vocal alterations after the infection, with 44.0% reporting the onset of throat clearing after the infection. There was a significant association between COVID-19 infection and having voice impairment (p=0.03; prevalence ratio - PR: 2.33; CI: 1.04 – 5.46). An association was observed between the onset of throat clearing and the occurrence of COVID-19 infection (p=0.001; PR: 9.13; CI: 2.47-64.42). CONCLUSIONS: The results indicated that there is an association between COVID-19 infection and complaints of dysphonia and throat clearing in Brazilian singers. This study demonstrates the importance of guidance to singers infected with COVID-19 by health voice processionals.