Dr. Nolt is a family physician at Joint Base Langley-Eustis in Virginia. Ms. Ennis is a speech language pathologist, and Dr. Ott and Dr. Roman are pulmonologists, all at Eglin Air Force Base in Florida. Dr. Ott is an assistant professor of medicine at F. Edward Herbert School of Medicine at the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences.
Author disclosures The authors report no actual or potential conflicts of interest with regard to this article.
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Vocal cord dysfunction remains a difficult diagnosis to treat, because multiple comorbidities likely contribute to the diagnosis. This retrospective case series attempted to compile common themes and noted that most of the patients had 2 or more risk factors of smoking, allergic rhinitis, GERD, or mental health diagnoses. A prospective trial would be ideal to evaluate VCD further. A focused trial in the particular communities of athletes or of military service members may be of increased benefit to better define VCD. It is notable that 100 cases were found in a relatively short period for a community hospital, and prevalence may be higher than previously reported.
