Cystic fibrosis-related diabetes (CFRD) is linked to a decreased life expectancy in adults with cystic fibrosis (CF). A new study published in 'Scientific Reports' suggests that the human voice could potentially serve as an indicator of glycemic control in patients with cystic fibrosis.

      Voice acoustic analysis may be used for CFRD screening and monitoring of glucose levels at home. However, it is not clear how high blood glucose levels affect voice characteristics in patients with CFRD. This prospective study aims to establish the relationship between voice characteristics and markers of glucose and glycemic control, and determine whether voice analysis can predict high blood glucose levels and glycemic control in adults with CFRD. For the study, researchers recorded 3-second voice samples of a sustained /a/ vowel from adults with CF and analyzed the voice characteristics using the Computerized Speech Lab with the Multi-Dimensional Voice Program. The study included 43 participants; of which 25 had CFRD with an HbA1c level below 7% and 18 had CFRD with an HbA1c level of 7% or higher. Among female participants with CFRD, those with an HbA1c level of 7% or higher had significantly lower noise-to-harmonic ratios. Additionally, both male and female participants with CFRD who had glucose levels of 200 mg/dL or higher at the time of collection had significantly lower fundamental frequency variation.

      These findings suggest a correlation between high glucose levels and specific voice characteristics. The key advantage of this technology is that glycemic control can be indirectly associated with voice analysis, offering a non-invasive technique for glycemic monitoring. In the future, this technology could be used to approximate real-time markers of glycemic control without the need for invasive procedures like finger pricks, monitor long-term CFRD glycemic status, and be included in telehealth visits.

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