Klaske van Sluis

54 3.3. Results Figure 3.2: Graph visualizing mean scores for the total group for EQ-5D-5L, VHI-10, AVQI scores, Perc. Voice SLP, and Perc. Voice Pt. at each time point. EQ-5D-5L and VHI-10 scaled 0-10, AVQI and VHI-10 inverted. For easier interpretation we inverted and scaled all outcome measures 0-10. Abbreviations: EQ-5D-5L: scores are obtained with the EQ-5D-5L and range from 0 to 1, AVQI: Acoustic Voice Quality Index (range 0-10); Perc. Voice SLP: Perceptual rated voice quality by the SLP (visual analogue scale 0-10); Perc. Voice Pt: Perceptual rated voice quality by the participant (visual analogue scale 0-10). tically significant difference was found with paired t-test. Worst mean EQ-5D-5L values are reported at T0, mean 0.712 (SD 0.203) (Table 4). Over time a gradually improvement of mean EQ-5D-5L values are seen. At T3 the mean EQ-5D-5L value is 0.830 (SD 0.164), which is equivalent to the reference value of 0.839 (SD 0.179) determined for the Dutch general population aged 60-70 years [23]. Before surgery 70% of the participants report a score lower than this reference value, Figure 3 shows that there is an improve- ment in participant reported scoring with only 48% of participant scores being outside normal limits. Mean values for VHI-10 were at all assessment time points above 11, which is indicated as disordered [26]. Before surgery participants report a mean VHI- 10 score of 16.7 (SD 10.6), this worsens at T1 with a mean score of 20.3 (SD 10.0), and over time gradually improves back to baseline level at T3 with a score of 15.8 (SD 12.0). Figure 3 visualizes the percentage of participants reporting a score above 11, which is before surgery 71%, At T2 87%, declining to 50% at