A clinico-statistical analysis was performed on 1064 cases who complained of hoarseness and were seen at the department of otolaryngology of Korea University Hospital during the past 8 years from Jan. 1971 to Dec. 1978. The results were as follows; 1) The number of the patient with hoarseness was 1064 (3.1%) to total out-patient of 34, 725. 2) Among total 1064 cases, male was 558 and female was 506. The ratio was 1.1 to 1.0. 3) In age distribution, the hoarseness was most frequently seen in the 3rd decade (220 cases, 20.7%) and the 4th decade was next (183 cases, 17.2%) of which chronic laryngitis is a leading cause of hoarseness. 4) The underlying diseases causing hoarseness in order of frequency were chronic laryngitis (381 cases, 35.8%), acute laryngitis (234 cases, 22.0%), laryngeal polyp (69 cases, 6.5%), unknown causes (77 cases, 7.2%). 5) Number of the patients who came to the hospital within 15 days after the onset of hoarseness were 283 cases (26.6%) and over 5 years after the onset of hoarseness were 24 cases (2.3%). In one case, the patient has attention on his hoarseness for the first time after 18 years later. 6) Associated symptoms with hoarseness were sore-throat, cough with sputum and dyspnea. 7) Particulary, with respect to epidemiological study were carried out on 42 cases with laryngeal polyp and nodule. The results were as follows; (1) Among total 42 cases, male were 19 and female were 23. The ratio was 1 : 1.2. (2) In age distribution, the 3rd decade was 28 cases (28.6%), the 2nd decade was 11 cases (26.2%) and the 4th decade was 7 cases (16.7%). (3) High occurrence rate of hoarseness was noticed in the house-wives, urbanite, people who are exposed to noisy environments or live in independent-house under dry humidity, talkatives, and people who enjoys himself over alcohol and tobacco together.
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