Voice, airway, and swallowing disorders in pregnancy: A retrospective cohort study
Year: 2026
Type: article
Study design: Observational Study
Abstract: Objective: A growing population of people of childbearing age seeks care from an otolaryngologist. This study aims to identify trends in the care of pregnant patients with laryngological disorders related to the voice, airway, and swallowing. Methods: This is a retrospective cohort study of patients aged 18-50 at a single institution who had an ICD diagnosis of a disorder related to the voice, airway, or swallowing during pregnancy between 1 December 2014 and 1 December 2024. Results: One hundred and seventy-eight charts were included in the final analysis. Sinusitis was the most common condition, followed by acute upper respiratory infection (URI) and aphagia/dysphagia. Delaying surgical or medical treatment due to pregnancy was common, but loss to follow-up was a risk. Conclusions: Sinusitis, acute URI, and aphagia/dysphagia were the most common voice, airway, and swallowing disorders identified. While treatment patterns vary, pregnancy represents a unique window for optimizing health, of these and other conditions.
Source: Obstetric Medicine
Institution: University of Virginia
Language: English
Topic: Voice and Speech Disorders
Subfield: Physiology
Field: Medicine
Domain: Health Sciences
Open Access status: green
OpenAlex ID: W7203837290