Investigating the Relationship Between the Body Roundness Index and Presbylarynx.

Abstract

The aim of this study was to determine whether the body roundness index (BRI) differs between older adults with endoscopically defined presbylarynx and age-matched subjects and to examine its relationship with patient-reported outcomes and acoustic measures. This prospective, cross-sectional study included adults aged ≥ 60 who were classified into a presbylarynx group and control group using videolaryngostroboscopy. Anthropometric measurements of height, weight, body mass index (BMI), and BRI were recorded. Patient-reported scales (T-VHI-10, T-RSI, and T-EAT-10) were applied and acoustic analyses were performed using standardized protocols. Group comparisons were performed using the Mann-Whitney U-test and χ ² Fisher's exact test. No significant difference was determined between the two groups of a total of 167 study participants (presbylarynx group n = 87; control group n = 80), in respect of the anthropometric indices (all p ≥ 0.113). Among symptomatic participants (T-VHI-10 > 7), a lower waist circumference (p = 0.016) and a significantly lower BRI (median 5.06 vs. 6.80; p = 0.003) were recorded for the presbylarynx group. The acoustic analysis results of the whole sample revealed higher shimmer (%), lower HNR, lower CPPS, and higher AVQI-3.0 in the case group (all p < 0.05). Although conventional anthropometric measures were similar in the whole population, a lower BRI was a notable finding among symptomatic individuals with presbylarynx, who also presented with a noise-dominant acoustic profile. Integrating body composition markers, such as BRI, with acoustic biomarkers may help to refine phenotyping and inform targeted rehabilitation strategies for the aging voice.