Geographic Clustering of Idiopathic Subglottic Stenosis in North America: An Ecological Cohort Study

Background

Idiopathic subglottic stenosis (iSGS) is a recurrent fibroinflammatory narrowing of the subglottis, typically affecting White pre- and perimenopausal women. While its etiology remains uncertain, inflammatory signaling, reflux, hormonal influences, and mycobacterial factors have been proposed. This study evaluated geographic variability in survey-ascertained iSGS prevalence, exploring potential environmental correlates associated with regional disease distribution.