Modeling complex relationships in laryngeal pathologies: A structural equation analysis of dysphonia in Saudi Arabian patients

Introduction

Dysphonia is a prevalent laryngological condition that impairs communication and quality of life in several cases, however the interplay between risk factors and specific laryngeal pathologies remains poorly understood. Previous studies often lack structured modeling of these multifactorial interactions. We utilized structural equation modeling (SEM) in a large Saudi-based cohort to investigate the direct and indirect pathways linking demographic factors, behavioral variables, as well as the types of laryngeal pathologies.

Methods

Our retrospective cohort study retrieved and analyzed the relevant data from dysphonia patients at a tertiary-care hospital in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Laryngeal pathologies were categorized into structural, inflammatory, neurological, and functional types. Our proposed SEM framework has assessed both of the direct and indirect pathways from risk factors to these categories, including cross-pathology links and moderation effects.

Results

Our study cohort has included a total of 998 eligible dysphonia patients. Structural pathologies were most prevalent (33.9 %). The SEM demonstrated excellent fit (CFI = 0.961, RMSEA = 0.049) and identified significant pathways: female gender strongly predicted structural (β = 0.412) and functional pathologies; increasing age associated positively with inflammatory, neurological, and functional types; smoking strongly predicted inflammatory pathologies (β = 0.338); occupational voice use predicted structural (β = 0.356) and functional (β = 0.297).

Conclusions

This SEM-based etiological model reveals peculiar and significant important dysphonia pathways with clear demographic signatures in a Saudi-based population. Findings highlight specific high-risk groups (as female voice professionals, older smokers) and important progression patterns (inflammatory-to-neurological, structural-to-functional). This framework helps to offer a more precise risk profiling, supporting targeted screening protocols and tailored preventive interventions based on specific risk factors and interconnected pathology development.