Investigating the Relationship Between the Body Roundness Index and Presbylarynx

Objective: 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.

Methods: 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 χ2 Fisher's exact test.

Results: 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).

Conclusion: 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.