Evaluation of Vocal and Pulmonary Health Through Acoustic Analysis of Voice and Respiratory Measurements in People With Long COVID-19 Symptoms.

Abstract

Background/objectives: The coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic has significantly impacted global health, with Malaysia reporting over 5 million cases as of May 2024. While symptoms like fatigue and breathlessness are commonly reported among COVID-19 patients, limited research exists on the vocal and pulmonary conditions of individuals with long COVID symptoms. This study aims to assess vocal impairments and pulmonary function differences between long COVID patients and healthy controls, addressing gaps in understanding how long COVID affects vocal and respiratory health. Additionally, it seeks to identify gender-specific differences to inform targeted rehabilitation programs.

Methods: The study included 140 participants, divided into two groups: an experimental group (long COVID patients) and a control group (healthy individuals). Participants completed questionnaires and underwent acoustic voice and pulmonary/lung function measurements in a controlled environment at Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM). Vocal parameters measured were F0, F0SD, jitter, shimmer, harmonic-to-noise ratio, cepstral peak prominence (CPP), H1-H2, maximum phonation time (MPT), and number of voice break (NVB), while pulmonary function was assessed using forced vital capacity (FVC), forced expiratory volume in the first second (FEV1), and the FEV1/FVC ratio.

Results: Significant differences were found between the long COVID and control groups in several vocal acoustic parameters (F0, jitter, shimmer, CPP, MPT, and H1-H2) and pulmonary function measures (FEV1, FEV1/FVC ratio). Gender-specific differences included males showing significant differences in shimmer, CPP, H1-H2, MPT, and FVC (combined obstructive and restrictive conditions), while females showed differences in F0, jitter, shimmer, and H1-H2. Both genders exhibited obstructive lung conditions.

Conclusion: The study investigated vocal and pulmonary function impairments in individuals experiencing long COVID symptoms compared with healthy controls. Significant differences in vocal acoustic and pulmonary parameters were observed between the two groups. This study identified changes in vocal acoustic and pulmonary parameters associated with long COVID, highlighting the need for targeted rehabilitation programs to support recovery in affected patients, providing insights into potential rehabilitation programs for long COVID patients.