Vocal Cord Dysfunction and Asthma

Opinion Statement

Vocal cord dysfunction (VCD) is a functional disorder of the vocal cords characterized by exaggerated adduction of vocal cords during inspiration and/or expiration causing respiratory and laryngeal symptoms. VCD can exist in isolation and coexist with asthma, or it can mimic asthma. The missteps during the VCD and asthma diagnostic process and subsequent faulty clinical conclusions can lead to mistreatment and increased health care utilization that can last for years. Therefore, diagnostic precision in conjunction with optimal therapeutics is a prerequisite for the best patient outcomes in this patient population. An integrated approach is frequently required using multiple diagnostic modalities to make a correct diagnosis. The treatment options, usually applied in a step-wise progression, depend on the severity of presentation and the underlying type of VCD. Future studies should address the better identification of specific phenotypes of VCD and their corresponding treatments.

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