Background

Bronchial asthma had long been considered the major airway disease associated with reversible airflow obstruction, airway hyperresponsiveness, and small and large airway inflammation. Inhalation therapy with bronchodilator in the form of long-acting β2 adrenergic agonists (LABAs) as reliever medications and anti-inflammatory drugs likecorticosteroids as controller ones basically established the cornerstone treatment for most patients with different disease severities. Predictably, therapeutic efficacy was assessed on the basis of manner of drug delivery as well as improvement in symptoms and lung functions [1]. Patients managed with steroids were found to develop inhaler laryngitis ranging from mucosal erythema, edema, and thickening to granulation, leukoplakia, and candidiasis. More severe mucosal findings in those cases manifested as laryngopharyngeal reflux. Recovery from of dysphonia occurred only after withdrawal of the inhaled steroid therapy [2]. The phonatory side effects of different compositions of both were widely documented. However, there was limited or incomplete understanding of the physiological alterations prompted by these medications that lay beneath the phonatory side effects [3]. Among the most common local adverse effect of inhaled corticosteroids (ICS) therapy was dysphonia that had been reported in 5 to 58% of patients. Although causes of dysphonia associated with ICS therapy had not been scoped out, it might result from deposition of an active molecule in the oropharynx during supplementation, which then led to myopathy or a mucosal effect in the laryngopharynx [4]. Awareness of the physiological changes to the vocal folds after corticosteroid and LABA treatments was a mandate to limit the prevalent vocal functional decrement linked to these medications. It was suggested that one implied physiological mechanism for phonatory changes associated with inhaled long-acting β2 agonist inhaled treatments might be related to acute alterations in vocal fold ion transport and mucosal surface hydration [5]. Overall inhaled therapy for bronchial asthma patients showed direct hazards depending on the type and frequency of supplementation. So, the aim of this cross-sectional study was to assess the impact of habitual versus occasional utilization of inhalation therapy of patients with bronchial asthma on their vocal cords regarding visual endoscopic pathological changes in addition to phonetic dysfunction.

Methods

Study type

This is a prospective observational longitudinal study (depending that patients continued on their current medication, no intervention, with repeated observation) which was carried out on 135 well-proven and recently diagnosed bronchial asthma (within 3 months prior study) patients from age 10 to 50 years. They were recruited from the outpatient pulmonology clinics from Taibah medical services center, Al-Medina Al-Munwarah, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Only 112 patients completed the study (66 male and 46 females; 92 adults aged 25–50 years and 20 children in the age group 10–18 years) who were adherent to inhaler therapy for 9 months from February 2019 to December 2019. They were classified into two groups taking GINA 2002 into consideration according to the medical recording system of cases in Taibah Medical center outpatient clinics:

Group A (habitual user): involved 65 patients with severe persistent asthma (step 4) with regular frequent intake of inhalation therapy; daily utilization of their inhaler devices.

Group B (occasional user): 47 patients with intermittent asthma (step 1) with alternating intake of inhalation therapy; utilization of their inhaler devices ≤ once per week.

Preliminary written consent was taken from patients or children’s relatives. Departmental institutional review board agreement and ethical approval were taken. No spacer was used in the children age group.

Diagnostic procedures

The study was accomplished at three visits: visit 1, beginning of study; visit 2, after 6 months; and visit 3, at the end of study (9 months). Patients continued on their current medication (inhaled steroid and LABA in the form of fluticasone propionate plus salmeterol xinafoate (accuhaler) plus salbutamol as a reliever medication) with both forms metered dose inhaler (MDI) ± dry-powder inhaler (DPI) accuhaler.

Patients were subjected to the following:

  1. 1.

    Patient’s assessment: included study of the patient’s complaint (harsh cough, dysphonia, phonasthenic symptoms, and laryngeal soreness) and type and grade of asthma severity according to GINA 2002.

  2. 2.

    Vocal assessment: listening to the patient’s voice, auditory perceptual assessment was performed using the modified GRBAS scale [6], and voice was assessed commenting on the following parameters: (a) dysphonia; (b) character (quality) of voice: strained (S), leaky (L), breathy (B), and irregular “rough”; (c) pitch: normal or decreased; and (d) loudness: normal or decreased.

  3. 3.

    Laryngeal assessment: asthmatic patients included in our study were referred to ENT (ear, nose, and throat) department where laryngeal examination by ENT consultant was conducted for those patients in the intervention endoscopy room (Fig. 2) with the help of laryngovideostroboscopy that was performed using a digital stroboscopy unit (Model 9100 B; Kay Elemetrics Corp., Lincoln Park, NJ, USA) and connected to a CCD camera (Model 9111; Panasonic, Yokohama, Japan) under local spray and nebulized anesthesia with lidocaine 2%.

Patients with pathological lesions (nodules, polyps, and plaques) were sent to the ENT department in the International Medina Hospital, were subjected to tracheal swap and biopsy maneuver with Chevalier-Jackson Cup Shaped Biopsy Forceps Straight 35 cm, and were sent for histopathology.

Classification of cases into occasional user and habitual user was based on necessity to use both medication in different forms such as reliever medication and controller medication, so studying the hazards of β2 agonist alone and steroid alone was not applicable in this health institute because of the difficulty in isolation of medications and restriction of device supplementation as well as the deprivation of these cases from lifesaving medication for both bronchodilator or anti-inflammatory benefits.

Exclusion criteria

  1. 1.

    Age above 50 or below 10 years

  2. 2.

    Cases who showed any laryngeal complaints or endoscopic findings at visit 1 were excluded from the study

  3. 3.

    Status asthmaticus/COPD

  4. 4.

    Non-adherent patients on inhaler therapy in the past 9 months

  5. 5.

    ABPA

  6. 6.

    Connective tissue disease

  7. 7.

    Occupational asthma or history of inhalation injury

  8. 8.

    Smokers

  9. 9.

    Comorbidities such as congestive heart failure, renal failure, and liver cell failure

Clinical diagnostic aids

Recording and examination of the following was done (primary laryngeal endoscopic findings were recorded (Figs. 1)):

  1. 1.

    Laryngeal edema and hyperemia

  2. 2.

    Laryngeal nodule and polyp/s

  3. 3.

    Vocal cord mobility, paresis

  4. 4.

    Vocal cord atrophy, bowing

  5. 5.

    Cord dysfunction

  6. 6.

    Plaques

  7. 7.

    Glottis gap

Fig. 1
figure 1

Endoscopic view of laryngeal left vocal cord nodule during forceps excision

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Statistical analysis

Data were analyzed using SPSS (Statistical Package for Social Sciences) version 21. Qualitative data were presented as number and percentage. Quantitative data were presented for normality by Kolmogorov–Smirnov test. Normally distributed data were presented as mean and standard deviation. Comparison between groups was done using chi-square test. Student’s t test was used to compare between the two groups. P value < 0.05 was considered significant. (Figs. 1 and 2).

Fig. 2
figure 2

Laryngoscope and rigid type with instruments used in the theater

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Results

Table 1 demonstrates that the mean age for adult habitual user (42 years) was higher than adult occasional user (33 years) with statistically significant differences. The children group demonstrates also higher age in habitual than occasional user (13–10 years). Male predominance was common in both habitual and occasional user jointly in age groups but without statistical significant differences.

Table 1 Demographic data in studied population
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Table 2 showed that as regards clinical and vocal findings, habitual users showed that harsh cough and laryngeal soreness attained higher percentage in studies cases (63.6%, 60–80%, 70%) in adult and children respectively followed by strained voice and dysphonia in adult. Phonasthenia was found to be higher in children than adults (40%, 10%). Occasional users showed predominance of harsh cough and soreness in children than adult group dysphonia and phonasthenia, and strained character prevailed in the adult group but was absent in children one (16.2%, 24.3%, and 13.5%, respectively). Statistical significant differences were detected between the 4 groups regarding harsh cough and soreness (0.045 and 0.027) respectively.

Table 2 Clinical and vocal phonetic findings in studied cases
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In Table 3, regarding visual endoscopic findings, the habitual users group demonstrated that laryngeal edema and hyperemia attained the higher percentage in adult than children age group (60%, 40–67.3%, 50%) respectively together after 6 and 9 months of study followed by laryngeal nodules (5.4%, 0–9%, 10%). Occasional users presented the same findings comparable to the habitual group (27%, 10–32.4%, 20%). Cord paresis, cord dysfunction, and plaques were the second percentages in both age groups with the same percentage (3.6%) at the end of the study; however, in occasional users, plaques illustrated low percentage (2.7%, 5.4–0%, 10%) respectively with the absence of other endoscopic findings except cord dysfunction (2.7% in adult group). Statistical significant differences were detected between the 4 groups regarding laryngeal edema hyperemia and laryngeal nodules (0.0032, 0.0021) respectively.

Table 3 Laryngeal endoscopic characters of studied groups
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Biopsy was carried out in accessible visible endoscopic lesions (polyps and nodules and plaques) that were encountered in 15 cases (total cases = after 9 months) included in our study. All cases were proved to benign lesions (5 cases represented juvenile papilloma, 3 in adults and two in children, and 5 cases were fibroma, 4 in adults and 1 in children); 7 cases of plaques were proved to be caused by fungal monilial infection (4 in adults and 3 in children).

Duration of exposure might entail a significant factor regarding the increased incidence of complications of inhaled therapy between 6 and 9 months which was the end of study. Habitual user showed higher incidence by 18% in adults and 30% in children. Occasional users showed on the other hand higher incidence by 8 in adults and 20% in children. Laryngeal hyperemia followed by nodules presented higher percentage of occurrence than other findings.

Discussion

Vocal cords entail its significance owing to their location in the midway between the oral and nasal cavities in one hand and respiratory tree in the other hand; hence, any complaints involving both cavities as well as respiratory tract have their direct impact on gross and fine vocal cord actions. Bronchial asthma represents the most common and popular airway inflammatory disease that requires multiple modalities for its management; one of the most eminent lines is inhalation therapy that symbolizes reliever and rescue medications.

Asthmatic adult and child patients received inhalation therapy directly in repetitive frequency as a habitual medication either as a necessary manner or a routine manner. They also may use this therapy as a false belief that without inhaler, the patient may be at risk of a lethal attack whatever the current condition. Inhaler therapy being as a local remedy signified its negative feedback from the method of delivery, nature and size of molecules, velocity of applicant devices, and duration of tissue contact till complete elimination from this site then absorption into systemic circulation. Furthermore, the patient power, compliance, and adherence of treatment imply an important factor in occurrence or absence of hazards.

Regarding visual endoscopic findings, in our work, adult habitual users were proved to have laryngeal edema and hyperemia (76.3% after 6 months and 95% after 9 months) while child habitual users showed 40% after 6 months and 50% after 9 months verifying a well-established irritant effect with cumulative outcome after prolonged exposure. The same was found regarding nodules and fungal plaques. Adult occasional users presented lower percentage of occurrence (27% after 6 months and 32% after 9 months); also, child occasional users revealed lowest percentage that confirmed cause relation with cumulative results with the absence of other endoscopic findings except cord dysfunction (2.7% in the adult group).

A study handled by John stated that the physical changes that are seen in the larynx of patients using inhaled fluticasone range from minimal to severe. Mild physical findings include edema and erythema. Moderate changes include mucosal thickening and vocal cord bowing. The most dramatic changes include leukoplakia, granulation, and laryngeal candidiasis. Many of these findings can also be seen with laryngopharyngeal reflux, and differentiating these 2 possible pathogenetic factors can be difficult if one is not familiar with steroid induced laryngitis [2].

The benign nature of lesions after sampling and histopathology denied hazards of malignant transformation of lesions induced mostly or associated with therapy.

The duration of exposure might entail a significant factor regarding the increased incidence of complications of inhaled therapy between 6 and 9 months which was the end of study. Habitual user showed higher incidence by 18% in adults and 30% in children. Occasional users showed on the other hand higher incidence by 8% in adults and 20% in children. Laryngeal hyperemia followed by nodules presented higher percentage of occurrence than other findings.

The study conducted by Barnes et al. stated that the frequent use of higher doses of ICS had been associated with both systemic as well as local side effects. The results of this study discovered more laryngeal irregularities in group A (patients with ICS) than in group B (patients without ICS). Group A showed the following: vocal fold congestion either localized or diffuse, hypertrophy of ventricular band, incomplete closure of glottis, and glottic gap. Moreover, a decrease in glottic wave and amplitude was identified [7].

In our words, these findings could be attributed to many factors; firstly was the adherence and accuracy of technique of inhaler handling that were efficient in adults than children in a second prolonged duration of inhaler application, as well as culture of adult which compelled them to frequently intake medications for fear of lethal attack of asthma. Secondly were the morphological and geometric considerations of difference between adult larynx and pediatric one for the drug deposition. Thirdly was the molecular features of drugs that could be identified and needed more collaboration with pharmaceutical studies.

Natasha et al. conducted a retrospective review of 10 consecutive patients, who attended at the voice center for more than 1 month of dysphonia after beginning a combination form of asthma medication as a controller and maintenance therapy. All patients in the study were nonsmokers and showed negative history of previous vocal complaints. Video-stroboscopic laryngeal examination was done for all patients. A questionnaire regarding their observed voice change and history of asthma therapy was taken. Dysphonia was detected in the patients included for greater than 4 weeks. In 8/9 of patients, the vocal folds demonstrated hyperemic areas, with plaque-like features on its surface mucosa. Reduction of amplitude of vibration and a reduction in mucosal wave propagation were found on video-stroboscopy [8].

Our patients showed, in favor, that clinical and vocal findings in habitual users showed predominance of harsh cough and laryngeal soreness in studies adults and children (63.6%, 60–80%, 70%) respectively followed by strained voice and dysphonia mainly in adults. Phonasthenia was found to be higher in children than in adults (40%, 10%). Occasional users showed high proportion of harsh cough and soreness in children than in the adult group; however, dysphonia phonasthenia and strained character prevailed in the adult group; on the other hand, they were absent in children (16.2%, 24.3%, and 13.5%, respectively).

Besides, Barnes et al. declared that acoustic analysis showed major increase in the Jitter and Shimmer percentage. Dysphonia was detected in 19 patients (76%) of group A, six patients (24%) with dysphonia grade 1, 10 patients (40%) with dysphonia grade 2, and three patients (12%) with dysphonia grade 3, in that their voice was perceived whichever as strained, leaky, or of rough characters [7].

Another study conducted by Lavy et al. [9] on 38 patients with bronchial asthma had the same findings. Dysphonia was found in 34 patients (89%). They cited a variable and reversible degrees of dysphonia in their patients who did not apt well with the prolonged use of ICS and induced myopathy by them. It had been postulated that the main reason of dysphonia in some cases was steroid myopathy disturbing the muscles of vocal fold. Thus, there was bilateral adductor vocal fold deformity with vocal folds bowing on phonation [10]. This problem was, conversely, to be reversed when therapy with the inhaled steroid had stopped. The affected acoustic parameters were explained by the fact that the oscillating character of the vibratory edges and their mechanical properties in the vocal folds are sensitized by the pathological effects such as irregularities in the free edge of vocal folds or congestion. These structural changes initiated disturbing mechanical sequences, an atypical vibratory pattern, asymmetry in vibration of vocal fold, and tissue aspects with a subsequent alteration of the acoustic parameters.

In favor of voice nature, in the study by Attef et al. [11], it was mainly strained and leaky in group A patients. Grade 1 strained voice was present in 28% of cases and leaky voice of grade 1 in 28% of cases. Rough voice of grade 1 was also found in 8 patients (32%) and grade 2 in 2 patients (8%). The patient’s effort to compensate for the small glottis gap by performing glottic and supraglottic hyperactivity elucidated the appearance of the strained cords causing a tense voice. Dogan et al. [12] detected impaired voice quality in 17.5% of patients which is lower than that in this study. In their former study, patients in group A showed diffuse congestion in 20%, localized congestion in 40%, ventricular folds hypertrophy in 56%, vocal fold hypertrophy in 4%, and glottic gap in 16%. Hanania et al. [13] reported that these results could be described by the irritation of the laryngeal mucosa or by medical deposits from the inhaled steroids. As regards stroboscopic examination of group A patients, glottic wave and amplitude were diminished in both vocal folds in 32%, in 8% of the right vocal fold, and in 20% of the left vocal fold and were asymmetric in phase in 56% and also were asymmetric in amplitude in 48%.

It was reported by Kotby [6] that any minimal aberration of acoustic parameters may affect the pathological changes in voice. These consequences were comparable to the findings of Koike et al. [14], who revealed that voice pathology can cause augmented noise components in the voice signal such as major frequency and turbulent noise, besides voice breaks. The study by Roland et al., on the influence of ICS on voice, found high incidence of frequency and amplitude worry values (jitter and shimmer) in patients who had taken ICS with high doses and for a prolonged time [15].

Local adverse effects had been reported with all forms of inhaled corticosteroids, including beclomethasone dipropionate, triamcinolone, and budesonide acetonide. As such, approving methods to lessen inhaled steroid-related oropharyngeal adverse effects such as rinse mouth, gargling with water after use, or the use of inhaled steroids with an upgraded safety profile considered the primary method in asthma management to decrease the impact of adverse effects [16].

Adel M. Saeed et al. declared in their study in 2018 [17] that impaired voice quality and various grades of dysphonia were detected in in 30% of the COPD group of patients by means of auditory perceptual assessment; structural changes in the vocal folds (diffuse congestion, unhealthy mucosa, and edema) were detected in 36.6%. In the bronchial asthma group, impaired voice quality and various grades of dysphonia were detected in 16.7% and structural changes were detected in 20% of them, whereas acoustic analysis showed a highly significant increase in jitter and shimmer and decreased harmonic-to-noise ratio in 100% of patients of both groups. These changes were greater in metered dose inhaler users than in dry-powder inhaler users. In the bronchial asthma group, fluticasone propionate users had a significantly decreased harmonic-to-noise ratio compared with beclomethasone dipropionate and budesonide users, as well as the least pitch and highest shimmer and jitter. A significant statistical correlation was found between ipratropium inhalation usage and increased shimmer in the COPD group. There was a highly significant correlation between spirometric severity and both grade of dysphonia and character of voice in bronchial asthma patients.

Our study faced many limitations; firstly is the stratification of age groups between adults and children; secondly was the segregation between types of inhaler devices and segregation between types of medications used which was a major obstacle which needed more research about management lines to distressed cases in each group through the study; and thirdly was studying different occupational and environmental hazards and hereditary factors that have direct influences on vocal cord pathological changes.

Conclusion

Bronchial asthma inhalation therapy showed emphatic correlations to excruciating complications on vocal cords regarding both morphological and functional aspects with well-recorded visual endoscopic lesions presented in hyperemia, nodules, and fungal plaques in addition to atrophy, cord paresis, and dysfunction. Furthermore, phonetic changes were documented in the form of dysphonia and phonasthenia.