Deglutologist Practices and Perceptions of the Penetration-Aspiration Scale: A Survey Study

Successful dysphagia management requires accurate, succinct diagnosis and characterization of swallowing safety impairments. However, the Penetration-Aspiration Scale (PAS) remains the only available tool developed exclusively for assessment of airway protection. To best support efforts to advance the field's understanding of swallowing safety, it is crucial to understand current clinician practice patterns, perceptions, and accuracy regarding the PAS. A 46-item survey was developed and distributed to deglutologists internationally examining: (1) Demographics; (2) Scale Practices; (3) Swallowing Safety Priorities; (4) Scale Perceptions; and (5) Accuracy. The first four sections consisted of questionnaires. In the optional fifth section, respondents were asked to score five videos of swallows collected via videofluoroscopy and previously PAS-scored by two trained raters. In total, 335 responses were analyzed. The majority of respondents self-reported PAS training (84%); 90% of untrained respondents were receptive to training. Respondents reported using the PAS "always" (40%) or "frequently" (29%), and that the PAS carries "a great deal of" weight in assessment (40%). Reported application of the PAS was heterogeneous, with the most common approach being "single worst score per unique presentation" (45%). Most respondents (64%) prioritized a parameter not captured by the PAS. Untrained respondents were significantly more confident with PAS ratings than trained respondents (X2 = 7.47; p = 0.006). Of 1460 PAS ratings provided, 364 of them were accurate (25%) when compared to ratings by trained lab members. Results of this survey reflect ubiquitous use of the PAS, unmet needs for assessment of swallowing safety, low accuracy despite generally high confidence, and heterogenous training that does not correspond to confidence. This emphasizes the need for additional training in clinical application of the PAS as well as development of novel metrics to optimize assessments of swallowing safety.

Thick Liquids and Clinical Outcomes in Hospitalized Patients With Alzheimer Disease and Related Dementias and Dysphagia

Importance

Oropharyngeal dysphagia is common in hospitalized patients with Alzheimer disease and related dementias (ADRD). Although the use of thick liquids in patients with dysphagia has been shown to reduce aspiration on direct visualization, there is no clear evidence that this practice translates into improved clinical outcomes.

Objectives

To determine whether a diet of thick liquids compared with thin liquids is associated with improved outcomes in hospitalized patients with ADRD and dysphagia.

Design, Setting, and Participants

This cohort study included adults aged 65 years and older with ADRD who were admitted to the medicine service across 11 diverse hospitals in New York between January 1, 2017, and September 20, 2022, with clinical suspicion of dysphagia during hospitalization and survival for at least 24 hours after hospital arrival. Patients were grouped according to whether at least 75% of their hospital diet consisted of a thick liquid diet or a thin liquid diet. Propensity score matching was used to balance covariates across the 2 groups for the following covariates: demographics (eg, age, sex), baseline clinical characteristics (eg, Charlson Comorbidity Index), and acute presentation (eg, respiratory diagnosis, illness severity, delirium).

Main Outcomes and Measures

Hospital outcomes included mortality (primary outcome), respiratory complications (eg, pneumonia), intubation, and hospital length of stay (LOS).

Results

Of 8916 patients with ADRD and dysphagia included in the propensity score matched analysis, the mean (SD) age was 85.7 (8.0) years and 4829 were female (54.2%). A total of 4458 patients receiving a thick liquid diet were matched with 4458 patients receiving a thin liquid diet. There was no significant difference in hospital mortality between the thick liquids and thin liquids groups (hazard ratio, 0.92; 95% CI, 0.75-1.14]; P = .46). Compared with patients receiving thin liquids, patients receiving thick liquids were less likely to be intubated (odds ratio [OR], 0.66; 95% CI, 0.54-0.80), but they were more likely to have respiratory complications (OR, 1.73; 95% CI, 1.56-1.91).

Conclusions and Relevance

This cohort study emphasizes the need for prospective studies that evaluate whether thick liquids are associated with improved clinical outcomes in hospitalized patients with ADRD and dysphagia.

Ready for Discharge, but Are They Ready to Go Home? Examining Neighborhood-Level Disadvantage as a Marker of the Social Exposome and the Swallowing Care Process in a Retrospective Cohort of Inpatients With Dementia

PURPOSE

Socioeconomically disadvantaged areas are more resource poor, impacting adherence to swallowing care recommendations. Neighborhood-level disadvantage metrics, such as the Area Deprivation Index (ADI), allow for examination of social determinants of health (SDOH) in a precise region. We examined ADI in a cohort of persons living with dementia (PLWD) to determine representation of those residing in areas of socioeconomic disadvantage (high ADI), distribution of swallowing care provided, and frequency of SDOH-related counseling or resource linking prior to discharge.

METHOD

A retrospective chart abstraction was performed for all inpatients with a diagnosis of dementia (N = 204) seen by the Swallow Service at a large academic hospital in 2014. State ADI Deciles 1 (least) to 10 (most socioeconomic disadvantage) and decile groups (1-3, 4-7, and 8-10) were compared with the surrounding county. Frequency of videofluoroscopic swallowing evaluations (VFSEs) based on ADI deciles was recorded. To determine whether SDOH-related counseling or resource linking occurred for those in high ADI (8-10) neighborhoods, speech-language pathology notes, and discharge summaries were reviewed. Descriptive statistics, independent samples t tests, and one-way analysis of variance were calculated.

RESULTS

ADI was significantly higher in this cohort (M = 3.84, SD = 2.58) than in the surrounding county (M = 2.79, SD = 1.88, p = .000). There was no significant difference in utilization of swallowing services across decile groups (p = .88). Although the majority (85%) in high ADI areas was recommended diet modifications or alternative nutrition likely requiring extra resources, there was no documentation indicating that additional SDOH resource linking or counseling was provided.

CONCLUSIONS

These findings raise important questions about the role and responsibility of speech-language pathologists in tailoring swallowing services to challenges posed by the lived environment, particularly in socioeconomically disadvantaged areas. This underscores the need for further research to understand and address gaps in postdischarge support for PLWD in high-ADI regions and advocate for more equitable provision of swallowing care.

Dysphagia Is an Underrecognized Risk Factor for Viral Pneumonia Severity

The aim of this study was to examine the role of pre-existing dysphagia as a risk factor for COVID-19 severity among adults ≥50 years of age presenting to the emergency department (ED). This was a retrospective cohort study that used electronic health record data from two Midwestern EDs in the same health care system. The sample included patients ≥50 years of age who tested positive for SARS-COV-2 during an ED visit between March 15, 2020 and November 19, 2020. Patients were dichotomized based on documented history of dysphagia. The primary outcome was the highest World Health Organization COVID-19 clinical severity score within 30-days of ED arrival. Patients with a score of <4 were classified as non-severe whereas a score ≥4 was considered severe. Chi-square tests were used to assess differences in clinical severity scores between patients with and without dysphagia. A logistic regression model was created to estimate the odds of a severe COVID-19 clinical score. The sample included 126 patients without dysphagia and 40 patients with dysphagia. Patients with a history of dysphagia were more likely to develop severe COVID-19 disease compared to patients without (65.0% vs. 41.3%, p = 0.015). In multivariable analysis, patients with preexisting dysphagia (OR 2.38, 95% CI: 1.05-5.42; p = 0.038) and diabetes (OR 2.42 95% CI: 1.15-5.30; p = 0.021) had significantly increased odds of developing severe COVID-19. This study showed that a pre-existing diagnosis of dysphagia was independently associated with COVID-19 severity in adults ≥50 years of age.

Pre-hospitalization dysphagia and feeding tube placement in nursing home residents with advanced dementia

BACKGROUND

Despite research demonstrating the risks of using feeding tubes in persons with advanced dementia, they continue to be placed. The natural history of dysphagia among patients with advanced dementia has not been examined. We conducted a secondary analysis of a national cohort of persons with advanced dementia staying at a nursing home stay before hospitalization to examine (1) pre-hospitalization dysphagia prevalence and (2) risk of feeding tube placement during hospitalization based on preexisting dysphagia.

METHODS

A retrospective cohort study consisting of all nursing home (NH) residents (≥66 years) with advanced dementia (Cognitive Function Scale score ≥2), a hospitalization between 2013-2017, and a Minimum Data Set (MDS) 3.0 assessment within 120 days before hospitalization. Pre-hospitalization dysphagia status and surgically placed feeding tube insertion during hospitalization were determined by MDS 3.0 swallowing items and ICD-9 codes, respectively. A multivariate logistic model clustering on hospital was used to examine the association of dysphagia with percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy (PEG) feeding tube placement after adjustment for confounders.

RESULTS

Between 2013 and 2017, 889,983 persons with NH stay with advanced dementia (mean age: 84.5, SD: 7.5, and 63.5% female) were hospitalized. Pre-hospitalization dysphagia was documented in 5.4% (n = 47,574) and characterized by oral dysphagia (n = 21,438, 2.4%), pharyngeal dysphagia (n = 24,257, 2.7%), and general swallowing complaints/pain (n = 14,928, 1.7%). Overall, PEG feeding tubes were placed in 3529 patients (11.2%) with pre-hospitalization dysphagia, whereas 27,893 (88.8%) did not have pre-hospitalization dysphagia according to MDS 3.0 items. Feeding tube placement risk increased with the number of dysphagia items noted on the pre-hospitalization MDS (6 vs. 0 dysphagia variables: OR = 5.43, 95% CI: 3.19-9.27).

CONCLUSIONS

Based on MDS 3.0 assessment, only 11% of PEG feeding tubes were inserted in persons with prior dysphagia. Future research is needed on whether this represents inadequate assessment or the impact of potentially reversible intercurrent illness resulting in feeding tube placement.

Predictors of Swallowing-Related Quality of Life in United States Veterans with Dysphagia

While both dysphagia and poor health-related quality of life frequently occur in United States (US) Veterans, swallowing-related quality of life in this population has not been systematically examined. This retrospective clinical observation study aimed to determine the independent predictors of swallowing-related quality of life for a sample of US Veterans. We examined the following variables in a multivariate analysis to determine the predictors of Swallowing Quality of Life Questionnaire scores: demographic information, Modified Barium Swallow Impairment Profile (MBSImP) scores, Penetration-Aspiration Scale scores, anterior lingual pressures, and Functional Oral Intake Scale scores. MBSImP oral phase score was the only variable that reached statistical significance (p ≤ 0.01), demonstrating that a more severe physiologic impairment in the oral phase of swallowing was independently predictive of worse swallowing-related quality of life. These findings highlight the need for clinicians to consider how impairments in swallowing physiology may impact the quality of life more broadly for patients with dysphagia.

The Impact of Modifiable Preoral Factors on Swallowing and Nutritional Outcomes in Healthy Adults: A Scoping Review

PURPOSE

Swallowing has previously been characterized as consisting of four phases; however, it has become apparent that these four phases are not truly discrete and may be influenced by factors occurring prior to bolus entrance into the oral cavity (i.e., preoral factors). Still, the relationship between these factors and swallowing remains poorly understood. The aim of this review was to synthesize and characterize the literature pertaining to the influence of preoral factors on swallowing and nutritional outcomes in healthy individuals.

METHOD

We performed a scoping review, searching the databases of PubMed, CINAHL, Cochrane, and Scopus. Search terms included those related to swallowing, experience of preoral factors, and exclusionary terminology to reduce animal and pediatric literature. Our initial search revealed 5,560 unique articles, of which 153 met our inclusionary criteria and were accepted into the review.

RESULTS

Of the accepted articles, 78% were focused exclusively on nutritional outcomes, 17% were focused on both swallowing and nutritional outcomes, and 5% were focused on solely swallowing outcomes. Of the preoral factors examined, 99% were exteroceptive in nature (17% olfactory, 44% visual, 21% auditory, 7% tactile, 11% other), while 1% were proprioceptive in nature.

CONCLUSIONS

This review supports the influence of preoral factors on swallowing and nutritional outcomes. However, there is a large emphasis on the visual modality and on nutritional outcomes. Nearly none of the literature found in this review directly measured swallowing safety, efficiency, or physiology. Future work will benefit from a larger focus on proprioceptive preoral factors as they relate to swallowing outcomes.

Effects of Device-Facilitated Lingual Strengthening Therapy on Dysphagia Related Outcomes in Patients Post-Stroke: A Randomized Controlled Trial

BACKGROUND

Swallowing impairments resulting from stroke have few rehabilitative options. Prior evidence suggests lingual strengthening exercise may provide some benefit, but more randomized controlled trials are required. The purpose of this study was to examine efficacy of progressive lingual resistance training on lingual pressure generative capacity and swallowing outcomes for individuals with dysphagia after stroke.

METHODS

Participants with dysphagia within 6 months of acute stroke were randomly assigned to: (1) treatment: progressive resistance tongue exercise using pressure sensors for 12 weeks with usual care; or (2) control: usual care only. Outcomes were measured at baseline, 8 and 12 weeks to assess group differences in lingual pressure generation, swallow safety, efficiency, oral intake, and swallowing quality of life.

RESULTS

Final sample included 19 participants [treatment (N = 9) and control (N = 10)] with 16 males and 3 females (mean age = 69.33). Functional Oral Intake Scale (FOIS) scores improved significantly (p = 0.04) in the treatment group from baseline to 8 weeks compared to usual care (control). No significant differences between treatment groups were identified for other outcomes; large effect sizes were detected for group differences in lingual pressure generative capacity from baseline to 8 weeks at the anterior sensor (d = .95) and posterior sensor (d = 0.96), and vallecular residue of liquids (baseline to 8-week d = 1.2).

CONCLUSIONS

Lingual strengthening exercise resulted in significant improvements in functional oral intake for patients with post-stroke dysphagia as compared to usual care after 8 weeks. Future studies should include a larger sample size and address treatment impact on specific aspects of swallow physiology.

Use of deep learning to segment bolus during videofluoroscopic swallow studies

Anatomical segmentations generated using artificial intelligence (AI) have the potential to significantly improve video fluoroscopic swallow study (VFS) analysis. AI segments allow for various metrics to be determined without additional time constraints streamlining and creating new opportunities for analysis. While the opportunity is vast, it is important to understand the challenges and limitations of the underlying AI task. This work evaluates a bolus segmentation network. The first swallow of thin or liquid bolus from 80 unique patients were manually contoured from bolus first seen in the oral cavity to end of swallow motion. The data was split into a 75/25 training and validation set and a 4-fold cross validation was done. A U-Net architecture along with variations were tested with the dice coefficient as the loss function and overall performance metric. The average validation set resulted in a dice coefficient of 0.67. Additional analysis to characterize the variability of images and performance on sub intervals was conducted indicating high variability among the processes required for training the network. It was found that bolus in the oral cavity consistently degrades performance due to misclassification of teeth and unimportant residue. The dice coefficients dependence on structure size can have substantial effects on the reported value. This work shows the efficacy of bolus segmentation and identifies key areas that are detriments to the performance of the network.

The effects of endoscope placement in the hypopharynx on swallowing-related measures in healthy adults

PURPOSE

The purpose of this study was to determine whether transnasal passage of a flexible endoscope results in changes in salivary flow rate (SFR), spontaneous swallow frequency (SSF), and masticatory efficiency (ME) in healthy adults.

METHODS

Data were collected from 15 healthy adults, 20-63 years of age. SFR and SSF were measured at baseline, after endoscope insertion, and after endoscope removal. The Test of Masticating and Swallowing Solids was administered at baseline and while the endoscope was in the hypopharynx. A repeated measures ANOVA was used to determine the effect of endoscope insertion on SFR and SSF. A paired samples t-test was used to determine the effect of endoscope insertion on total mastication time and number of masticatory cycles required with a cracker bolus. Statistical significance was set at α = 0.05.

RESULTS

SFR was found to be significantly increased during endoscope placement in the hypopharynx (M = 0.471 g/min, SD = 0.175, p = 0.002) as well as following endoscope removal (M = 0.481 g/min, SD = 0.231, p = 0.004), as compared to baseline (M = 0.310 g/min, SD = 0.130). Total mastication time and number of masticatory cycles required with a cracker bolus were significantly decreased when the endoscope was present in the hypopharynx, as compared to baseline t(14) = 3.054, p = 0.009; t(14) = 3.250, p = 0.006, respectively.

CONCLUSIONS

Visualization of swallowing during FEES is an important method for objectively evaluating several anatomical and functional parameters of the pharynx and larynx. Insertion of the endoscope into the hypopharynx during FEES may stimulate salivary secretion and improve ME, which could influence interpretation of FEES and resulting clinical recommendations.

Stratifying Risk of Nonadherence in Lingual Strengthening Dysphagia Rehabilitation

PURPOSE

Exercise-based treatments may improve swallowing safety and efficiency; yet, it is not clearly understood which factors predict nonadherence to recommended treatment protocols. The aim of this study was to construct an algorithm for stratifying risk of nonadherence to a lingual strengthening dysphagia treatment program.

METHOD

Using recursive partitioning, we created a classification tree built from a pool of sociodemographic, clinical, and functional status indicators to identify risk groups for nonadherence to an intensive lingual strengthening treatment program. Nonadherence, or noncompletion, was defined as not completing two or more follow-up sessions or a final session within 84 days.

RESULTS

The study cohort consisted of 243 Veterans enrolled in the Intensive Dysphagia Treatment program across six sites from January 2012 to August 2019. The overall rate of nonadherence in this cohort was 38%. The classification tree demonstrated good discriminate validity (C-statistic = 0.74) and contained eight groups from five variables: primary diagnosis, marital status, Penetration-Aspiration Scale (PAS) severity score, race/ethnicity, and age. Nonadherence risk was categorized as high (range: 69%-77%), intermediate (27%-33%), and low risk (≤ 13%-22%).

CONCLUSIONS

This study identified distinct risk groups for nonadherence to lingual strengthening dysphagia rehabilitation. Additional research is necessary to understand how these factors may drive nonadherence. With external validation and refinement through prospective studies, a clinically relevant risk stratification tool can be developed to identify patients who may be at high risk for nonadherence and provide targeted patient support to mitigate risk and provide for unmet needs.

Acute Antipsychotic Use and Presence of Dysphagia Among Older Veterans with Heart Failure

OBJECTIVE

Examine whether new antipsychotic (AP) exposure is associated with dysphagia in hospitalized patients with heart failure (HF).

DESIGN

Retrospective cohort.

SETTINGS AND PARTICIPANTS

AP-naïve Veterans hospitalized with HF and subsequently discharged to a skilled nursing facility (SNF) between October 1, 2010, and November 30, 2019.

METHODS

We linked Veterans Health Administration (VHA) electronic medical records with Centers for Medicare & Medicaid (CMS) Minimum Data Set (MDS) version 3.0 assessments and CMS claims. The exposure variable was administration of ≥1 dose of a typical or atypical AP during hospitalization. Our main outcome measure was dysphagia presence defined by (1) inpatient dysphagia diagnosis codes and (2) the SNF admission MDS 3.0 swallowing-related items to examine post-acute care dysphagia status. Inverse probability of treatment weighting was used for risk adjustment.

RESULTS

The analytic cohort consisted of 29,591 Veterans (mean age 78.5 ± 10.0 years; female 2.9%; n = 865). Acute APs were administered to 9.9% (n = 2941). Those receiving APs had differences in prior dementia [37.1%, n = 1091, vs 22.3%, n = 5942; standardized mean difference (SMD) = 0.33] and hospital delirium diagnoses (7.7%, n = 227 vs 2.8%, n = 754; SMD = 0.22). Acute AP exposure was associated with nearly double the risk for hospital dysphagia diagnosis codes [adjusted (adj.) relative risk (RR) 1.9, 95% CI 1.8, 2.1]. At the SNF admission MDS assessment, acute AP administration during hospitalization was associated with an increased dysphagia risk (adj. RR 1.2, 95% CI 1.0, 1.5) both in the oral (adj. RR 1.7, 95% CI 1.2, 2.0) and pharyngeal phases (adj. RR 1.3, 95% CI 1.0, 1.7).

CONCLUSIONS AND IMPLICATIONS

In this retrospective study, AP medication exposure was associated with increased dysphagia coding and MDS assessment. Considering other adverse effects, acute AP should be cautiously administered during hospitalization, particularly in those with dementia. Swallowing function is critical to hydration, nutrition, and medical management of HF; therefore, when acute APs are initiated, a swallow evaluation should be considered.

Dysphagia in Parkinson Disease: Part I - Pathophysiology and Diagnostic Practices

Purpose of Review

Dysphagia affects the majority of individuals with Parkinson disease (PD) and is not typically diagnosed until later in disease progression. This review will cover the current understanding of PD pathophysiology, and provides an overview of dysphagia in PD including diagnostic practices, gaps in knowledge, and future directions.

Recent Findings

Many non-motor and other motor signs of PD appear in the prodrome prior to the manifestation of hall- mark signs and diagnosis. While dysphagia often presents already in the prodrome, it is not routinely addressed in standard neurology examinations.

Summary

Dysphagia in PD can result in compromised efficiency and safety of swallowing, which significantly contributes to malnutrition and dehydration, decrease quality of life, and increase mortality. The heterogeneous clinical presentation of PD complicates diagnostic procedures which often leads to delayed treatment. Research has advanced our knowledge of mechanisms underlying PD, but dysphagia is still largely understudied, especially in the prodromal stage.

New horizons in understanding oral health and swallowing function within the context of frailty

Frailty is a complex and multidimensional condition wherein declines in physiologic reserve and function place individuals in a state of heightened vulnerability and decreased resiliency. There has been growing interest in both research and clinical settings to understand how to best define, assess and characterise frailty in older adults. To this end, various models and clinical assessment tools have been used to define and measure frailty. While differences exist among these models and tools, a common unifying theme is a focus on physical function and activity. Notably absent across many available conceptual models and clinical tools are items directly related to oral and swallowing function. This is an important oversight as widespread changes to both oral and swallowing function are evident in older adults. Indeed, emerging evidence suggests many of the functional domains affected in frail older adults, such as nutrition and sarcopenia, have cyclical relationships with impairments in oral (oral hypofunction) and swallowing function (dysphagia) as well. The increasing appreciation for the interrelationships among oral hypofunction, dysphagia and frailty provides an opportunity for refinement of frailty assessment and characterisation in older adults to incorporate metrics specific to oral and swallowing function.

DYSPHAGIA FOLLOWING HOSPITALIZATION IN NURSING HOME RESIDENTS WITH ALZHEIMER’S DISEASE AND RELATED DEMENTIAS

Dysphagia frequently occurs in nursing home (NH) residents with Alzheimer’s Disease and Related Dementias (ADRD), often leading to serious health outcomes (e.g., pneumonia, malnutrition, reduced quality of life). While it is known that hospitalized NH residents with ADRD experience high rates of iatrogenic complications, dysphagia following discharge has not been examined. A retrospective cohort of all NH residents in the US (older adults aged ≥66) with advanced ADRD (Cognitive Function Scale ≥2), hospitalized between 2013-2017, and without a feeding tube or reported dysphagia on a Minimum Data Set (MDS) 3.0 assessment within 120 days prior to hospitalization was constructed. Treatment with intermittent mandatory ventilation (IMV) or non-invasive ventilation (NIV) during hospitalization and dysphagia status on the first post-hospitalization MDS was recorded. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and random effects multivariate logistic models that adjusted for age, gender, race/ethnicity, CFS score, ADL score, and comorbidities. Among the 805,199 residents with ADRD who survived the hospitalization and returned to the NH, new onset dysphagia occurred in 53,807 (6.7%; 95% CI 6.6-6.7) of residents. After adjustment, invasive mechanical ventilation (IMV) use was associated with increased risk of new onset of dysphagia (AOR 1.5; 95% CI 1.4-1.6) and non-invasive mechanical ventilation (NIMV) only slightly increased the risk (AOR 1.3; 95% 1.2-1.3). NH residents with ADRD are at risk for dysphagia following hospitalization. These findings emphasize the importance of swallowing evaluation and dysphagia treatment during hospitalization for ADRD patients, especially those treated with IMV or NIV, to prevent further negative health outcomes.

2173. Co-Occurring Dysphagia and Frailty are Common and Associated with Increased Disease Severity in Older Adults Presenting with Community-Acquired Pneumonia

Background

Impaired swallowing (dysphagia) and physical (frailty) function are associated with community-acquired pneumonia (CAP), however, neither are routinely screened for in patients with CAP. We sought to: 1) examine frailty and dysphagia screening profiles in a cohort of older adults with CAP; and 2) determine if these screening profiles differ across CAP severity levels.

Methods

Older adults (≥65) meeting diagnostic criteria for pneumonia are included as participants. During the index encounter, dysphagia (3-ounce water swallow) and frailty (FSQ;4 ≥3 = frailty) screeners are administered. Thirty days post-enrollment, a standardized clinical severity scale is used to document CAP severity (mild (ambulatory management); moderate-severe (hospitalization)). Statistical analysis included descriptives and cross tabulations.

Results

We enrolled 26 participants (13 female) with a mean age of 73 (SD: 7.1). Nine (34.6%) and 17 (65.4%) patients had mild and moderate-severe CAP severity, respectively. Twenty (76.9%) and 14 (53.8%) patients met screening criteria for dysphagia and frailty, respectively. Screening profiles included: no frailty or dysphagia (15.4%), frailty and no dysphagia (11.5%), no frailty but dysphagia (30.8%), frailty and dysphagia (42.3%). No frailty but dysphagia (44.4%) was the most common mild CAP severity profile. When CAP severity worsened (moderate-severe), co-occurring frailty and dysphagia was most prevalent (47.1%). Fig. 1.Combined dysphagia and frailty screening profiles for this cohort.Dysphagia only was highly prevalent (31%), however, the majority of individuals presented with co-occurring dysphagia and frailty (42%).Fig. 2.Screening profiles across CAP severity levels.No frailty/dysphagia (44.4%) was the most common mild CAP profile. Co-occurring frailty/dysphagia was most prevalent (47.1%) in mod-severe CAP.

Conclusion

In this cohort, standardized screenings for dysphagia and frailty revealed both were common and frequently co-occurred, particularly in the high acuity CAP group. These data suggest older adults with pneumonia may have underlying dysphagia and/or frailty that warrant further evaluation. These potential impairments should be considered in care pathways (e.g. antibiotic therapy and rehabilitation services consultation) to mitigate negative sequelae.

Disclosures

All Authors: No reported disclosures.

The Relationship Between Menopause and Dysphagia: A Scoping Review

Purpose

Menopause marks the end of fertility and rapid decline of ovarian hormones in the female body, which corresponds to a myriad of changes to bodily systems, including the upper aerodigestive tract. Despite substantial evidence that menopause negatively impacts oral health, bones, and skeletal muscles, little research has examined these effects as they relate to swallowing. The purpose of this scoping review was to compile and summarize the existing literature investigating the relationship between menopause and swallowing-related structures and physiology.

Methods

Search terms were selected for three databases (PubMed, Scopus, and CINAHL) to gather relevant literature evaluating the relationship between menopause and swallowing-related anatomy as well as swallowing functions in both human and animal models. Relevant articles were reviewed, collated, and summarized to synthesize findings, identify gaps in the literature, and provide suggestions for future directions.

Results

This scoping review yielded 204 studies with the majority of these studies relating to one or more of the following categories: oral health, saliva, mandibular structures, and taste. Common oral symptoms reported in the literature included xerostomia, hyposalivation, tooth decay, inflammation of oral mucosa, and oral pain. Although literature supports that menopause adversely affects oral health, saliva, mandibular structures, and alters taste, a dearth of information was evident regarding how these hormone-dependent changes can adversely affect swallowing.

Conclusions

The relationship between menopause and swallowing has been overlooked by field of speech-language pathology. By identifying the major gaps in the literature, these results will inform future investigations evaluating relationships among ovarian hormones and swallowing.

Risk Factors for Dysphagia in Patients Hospitalized with COVID-19

Patients hospitalized with COVID-19 may be at risk for dysphagia and vulnerable to associated consequences. We investigated predictors for dysphagia and its severity in a cohort of patients hospitalized with COVID-19 at a single hospital center. A large level I trauma center database was queried for all patients hospitalized with COVID-19. Demographics, medical information associated with COVID-19, specific to dysphagia, and interventions were collected. 947 patients with confirmed COVID-19 met the criteria. 118 (12%) were seen for a swallow evaluation. Individuals referred for evaluation were significantly older, had a lower BMI, more severe COVID-19, and higher rates of intubation, pneumonia, mechanical ventilation, tracheostomy placements, prone positioning, and ARDS. Pneumonia (OR 3.57, p = 0.004), ARDS (OR 3.57, p = 0.029), prone positioning (OR 3.99, p = 0.036), ventilation (OR 4.01, p = 0.006), and intubation (OR 4.75, p = 0.007) were significant risk factors for dysphagia. Older patients were more likely to have more severe dysphagia such that for every 1-year increase in age, the odds of severe dysphagia were 1.04 times greater (OR 1.04, p = 0.028). Patients hospitalized with COVID-19 are at risk for dysphagia. We show predictive variables that should be considered when referring COVID-19 patients for dysphagia services to reduce time to intervention/evaluation.

Implementation of the VA Intensive Dysphagia Treatment Program: A Mixed-Methods Evaluation

The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Intensive Dysphagia Treatment program serves a critical role in facilitating improvements to quality of care, standardization of outcomes, and increased access to structured therapy for Veterans with dysphagia. It has been implemented at 26 sites nationally and continues expanding. An explanatory sequential mixed-methods design was utilized for program evaluation to identify barriers and facilitators to implementation as reported by speech-language pathologists (SLPs) participating in the program. All 23 IDT program SLPs were invited to participate in an online survey. SLPs were asked to describe etiologies referred for SLP evaluation, most and least clinically useful program aspects, and characteristics of patients recommended for therapy. Qualitative interviews/focus groups were then conducted with 9 SLPs at 3 facilities with varying levels of program experience. Transcripts underwent systems engineering framework informed deductive thematic analysis. Interview/focus groups revealed overall positive feedback. Barriers included data entry challenges and provider understanding of long-term program goals, while facilitators included program structure enabling increased patient follow-up, outcomes tracking, and training in new treatment modalities. Through this evaluation process, program leadership garnered actionable feedback to improve further implementation of the IDT program. Ongoing efforts will further improve data entry, site onboarding procedures, and program communication.

Impact of Dysphagia Rehabilitation in Adults on Swallowing Physiology Measured With Videofluoroscopy: A Mapping Review

PURPOSE

The research aims of this review were to (a) map swallowing rehabilitation approaches to specific swallowing impairments using the Modified Barium Swallow Impairment Profile (MBSImP) to develop evidence maps, (b) match desired rehabilitation treatment targets to treatment approaches, and (c) identify gaps in the literature and highlight which rehabilitation approaches require further investigation to support accurate mapping of interventions to physiologic change.

METHOD

A mapping review was conducted in accordance with the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses-Scoping Review extension framework. The databases searched were CINAHL, Ovid Medline, and Ovid Embase. Data extracted included swallowing rehabilitation approach details via the Rehabilitation Treatment Specification System framework, study characteristics, and resulting change in swallowing physiology. The resulting change in swallowing physiology was mapped onto MBSImP components, where applicable, and effect sizes were reported where data were available. Extracted data were summarized in the form of evidence maps.

RESULTS

Forty-three unique articles met the inclusion criteria for this review and were divided into single-approach and multi-approach exercise studies. Within single-approach studies, 13 different exercise approaches were investigated, and 117 outcome measures could be mapped to MBSImP components. Within multi-approach studies, 13 different combinations of exercise approaches were investigated and 60 outcome measures could be mapped to MBSImP components.

CONCLUSIONS

This review supports speech-language pathologists in incorporating current best evidence into their practice, as it found there is potential for improvement in many MBSImP components by using rehabilitative exercises. In the future, more intervention studies are needed to ensure that recommended rehabilitation approaches are beneficial for improving the targeted swallowing physiology.

Dysphagia Profiles Among Inpatients with Dementia Referred for Swallow Evaluation

BACKGROUND

Alzheimer's disease and related dementias (ADRD) patients who are hospitalized often develop oropharyngeal dysphagia, increasing risk for adverse outcomes, such as aspiration pneumonia. However, prevalence estimates of dysphagia are highly variable and often based on patient report or clinical testing rather than visualization of the swallow.

OBJECTIVE

The aims of this study were to determine prevalence and severity of dysphagia among inpatients with ADRD referred for swallowing evaluation.

METHODS

Electronic health record (EHR) abstraction of ADRD diagnosis and presence and severity of clinically-determined dysphagia on bedside swallow evaluation (BSE) and videofluoroscopic swallow study (VFSS).

RESULTS

16% (n = 268) had an ADRD diagnosis or were taking dementia-specific medication based on the EHR. 75% (n = 202) were diagnosed with dysphagia on the BSE. 60% subsequently underwent VFSS (n = 122) with dysphagia confirmation in 92% (n = 112). ADRD inpatients were significantly more likely to be diagnosed with dysphagia based on the BSE (p &lt; 0.0001) than those without ADRD. Additionally, dysphagia on the VFSS was more severe in the ADRD group (p &lt; 0.03).

DISCUSSION

ADRD individuals may be vulnerable to developing or worsening dysphagia during hospitalization. Results underscore the importance of evaluating swallowing function in hospitalized patients with ADRD in order to facilitate targeted intervention.

Alterations in white matter microstructural properties after lingual strength exercise in patients with dysphagia

OBJECTIVES

Central nervous system effects of lingual strengthening exercise to treat dysphagia remain largely unknown. This pilot study measured changes in microstructural white matter to capture alterations in neural signal processing following lingual strengthening exercise.

METHODS

Diffusion-weighted images were acquired from seven participants with dysphagia of varying etiologies, before and after lingual strengthening exercise (20 reps, 3×/day, 3 days/week, 8 weeks), using a 10-min diffusion sequence (9 b0, 56 directions with b1000) on GE750 3T scanner. Tract-Based Spatial Statistics evaluated voxel-based group differences for fractional anisotropy, mean diffusivity, axial diffusivity, radial diffusivity and local diffusion homogeneity (LDH). Paired t-tests evaluated treatment differences on each metric (P < 0.05).

RESULTS

After lingual strengthening exercise, lingual pressure generation increased (avg increase = 46.1 hPa; nonsignificant P = 0.52) with these changes in imaging metrics: (1) decrease in fractional anisotropy, forceps minor; (2) increase in mean diffusivity, right inferior fronto-occipital fasciculus (IFOF); (3) decrease in mean diffusivity, left uncinate fasciculus; (4) decrease in axial diffusivity, both left IFOF and left uncinate fasciculus; (5) increase in LDH, right anterior thalamic radiation and (6) decrease in LDH, temporal portion of right superior longitudinal fasciculus. There was a positive correlation between diffusion tensor imaging metrics and change in lingual pressure generation in left IFOF and the temporal portion of right superior longitudinal fasciculus.

CONCLUSIONS

These findings suggest that lingual strengthening exercise can induce changes in white matter structural and functional properties in a small group of patients with dysphagia of heterogeneous etiologies. These procedures should be repeated with a larger group of patients to improve interpretation of overall lingual strengthening exercise effects on cortical structure and function.

The Influence of Messaging on Perceptions of Careers in Veterinary Medicine: Do Gender Stereotypes Matter?

The veterinary medical workforce is increasingly female; occupational feminization often transfers stereotypes associated with the predominant gender onto the profession. It is unknown whether within veterinary medicine a feminized public image is a possible contributor to the reduction in male applicants to training programs. The influence of stereotypically gendered messaging on how male and female undergraduate students perceive veterinary medicine was investigated in 482 undergraduate students enrolled in five introductory or second-level biology courses. Two short videos introducing the field of veterinary medicine were developed with imagery and language selected to emphasize either stereotypic feminine (communal) or masculine (agentic) aspects of the field. Participant groups were randomly assigned one of the two videos (feminine/communal or masculine/agentic) or no video (no exposure). An outcome survey elicited impressions of the field of veterinary medicine and gathered demographic data. There was a significant linear trend of condition on perception of the profession as feminine or masculine and on perception of the activities of a veterinarian as feminine/communal or masculine/agentic. Female participants were significantly more likely to agree that someone of their gender would be valued in the profession. Male participants reported significantly higher self-efficacy scores for performing the tasks of a veterinarian when they viewed the feminine stereotype video. These results demonstrate that gendered perceptions of the field can be manipulated. Intentional gendered messaging should be further explored as one strategy to broaden the talent pool in the workforce by attracting men back to the field.

Lingual Exercise in Older Veterans With Dysphagia: A Pilot Investigation of Patient Adherence

Purpose Adherence is a concern in dysphagia management. Poor adherence with recommendations can negatively affect treatment efficacy and patient outcomes. For exercise-based therapies, low adherence can alter the dose of exercise delivered to the muscle, which can diminish impact of exercise. It has been established that low adherence is a problem in dysphagia treatments; however, relationships among levels of adherence and outcomes from exercise-based interventions have not been explored. Method In this retrospective pilot study, data were collected from a multicenter clinical demonstration program in the Veterans Affairs hospital system to examine the relationships between patient adherence with a device-facilitated lingual exercise regimen. Outcomes were compared pre- and posttreatment using a paired t test or Wilcoxon matched-pairs signed-ranks test, and relationships among adherence and outcome measures were evaluated using Pearson or Spearman rank correlation coefficients, as appropriate. Results Patient adherence was evenly distributed across participants: Adherence at the front sensor was 59.3% (SD = 28.2), ranging from 5.5% to 95.8%; the back sensor adherence was 55.9% (SD = 29.8), ranging from 1.1% to 97.2%. Maximum isometric pressure (MIP) generation, at both the front and back sensors, was increased from pre- to posttreatment (p < .0001, front; p = .008, back). Functional Oral Intake Scale (FOIS) scores were also significantly improved at the posttreatment time point as compared to baseline (p = .005). However, there were no significant correlations among adherence and outcome measures (front sensor adherence vs. ΔMIP, r = -.161, p = .342; back sensor adherence vs. ΔMIP, r = .002, p = .991; front sensor adherence vs. ΔFOIS, r = -.183, p = .279; back sensor adherence vs. ΔFOIS, r = -.160, p = .399). Conclusions These findings suggest that patient adherence with this lingual exercise program was not related to the increases in lingual pressure generation or improvement in functional oral intake observed in this cohort. These preliminary findings suggest the need for future, prospective, controlled, and randomized clinical trials to further investigate patient adherence with a lingual exercise program and related impacts of adherence on exercise dose and swallowing-related outcomes.

Factors Associated with Self-Reported Dysphagia in Older Adults Receiving Meal Support

OBJECTIVES

Dysphagia is common in older adults. However, there are no current estimates of dysphagia in community-dwelling older adults those receiving meal support. It is unknown whether dysphagia is associated with other measures of physical function (activities of daily living [ADL] ability or nutrition status). The study purposes were to determine the prevalence of self-reported dysphagia and to identify factors associated with self-reported dysphagia in community-dwelling older adults receiving meal support.

DESIGN

A cross-sectional study.

SETTING AND PARTICIPANTS

476 community-dwelling older adults (78.5±0.51 years) across five Elder Nutrition Program meal services in Wisconsin participated in the study.

MEASUREMENTS

Data were collected through administration of validated ADL and nutrition questionnaires (nutritional status, functional status with ADLs, chewing ability, dental conditions, and prior diagnoses of dysphagia, pneumonia, and dementia). For self-reported dysphagia, the validated 10-item eating assessment tool (EAT-10) was used.

RESULTS

The prevalence of self-reported dysphagia (EAT-10 score of ≥ 3) was 20.4%. Multivariate logistic regression results indicated that poor nutritional status (OR=3.1, p=0.04), difficulty chewing (OR=2.2, p=0.03), prior dysphagia diagnosis (OR=34.8, p<0.001), prior pneumonia diagnosis (OR=2.1, p=0.04), and meal service site (OR=2.68, p=0.02) were associated with self-reported dysphagia.

CONCLUSION

Approximately one in five community-dwelling older adults receiving meal support had self-reported dysphagia. Increased risk for poor nutrition, reduced chewing ability, prior dysphagia and pneumonia diagnosis, and meal service site were identified as factors associated with dysphagia on the EAT-10. Results highlight the need for further studies across more sites to identify dysphagia risk indicators in community-dwelling older adults receiving meal support state-wide.

Submental Muscle Activity and Its Role in Diagnosing Sarcopenic Dysphagia

PURPOSE

The objectives of this study were two-fold: 1) to investigate differences in activity duration and amplitude of the submental muscles during swallowing measured with surface electromyography (sEMG) in older patients with sarcopenic dysphagia compared to those without dysphagia and 2) to examine the diagnostic accuracy of submental sEMG signals for sarcopenic dysphagia.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Patients (n = 60) aged ≥65 years participated in this cross-sectional study. The submental muscle activity duration parameters were the duration from the onset of swallowing to the maximum amplitude (duration A), duration from the maximum amplitude to the end of the swallowing activity (duration B), and total duration. The amplitude parameters were mean and maximum amplitude. Maximum lingual pressures were also measured for comparison with sEMG parameters.

RESULTS

Duration A was not significantly different between the groups (p = 0.15), but duration B (p < 0.001) and total duration (p < 0.001) were significantly different between the non-dysphagic and sarcopenic dysphagic groups. The mean (p = 0.014) and maximum (p < 0.001) amplitudes were significantly different between the groups. The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC) was 0.94 (95% confidence interval (CI) 0.87-0.98) for duration B, 0.95 (95% CI 0.89-0.99) for total duration, 0.76 (95% CI 0.63-0.87) for maximum amplitude, and 0.61 (95% CI 0.47-0.75) for mean amplitude. The AUC of the total duration was significantly greater than that of lingual pressure (p = 0.02).

CONCLUSION

Patients with sarcopenic dysphagia had longer submental muscle activity duration and higher amplitude during swallowing as assessed using sEMG. The findings of this study can be useful in elucidating the underlying pathophysiology of sarcopenic dysphagia and in diagnosing sarcopenic dysphagia.

"Hopes and wishes": Goals of high-need, high-cost older patients and their caregivers

OBJECTIVE

Integration of patient-identified goals is a critical element of shared decision-making and patient-provider communication. There is limited information on the goals of patients with multiple medical conditions and high healthcare utilization. We aimed to identify and categorize the goals described by "high-need, high-cost" (HNHC) older patients and their caregivers.

METHODS

Using conventional content analysis, we used data from interviews conducted with 17 HNHC older patients (mean age 72.5 years) and 4 caregivers.

RESULTS

HNHC older patients and their caregivers used language such as "hopes, wishes, and wants" to describe their goals, which fell into eight categories: alleviating discomfort, having autonomy and control, decreasing treatment burden, maintaining physical functioning and engagement, leaving a legacy, extending life, having satisfying and effective relationships, and experiencing security.

CONCLUSION

Our results contribute to knowledge of goals of HNHC patients and provides guidance for improving the patient-provider relationship and communication between HNHC older patients and their healthcare providers.

PRACTICE IMPLICATIONS

Our findings can inform provider efforts to assess patient goals and engage high-need, high-cost older patients in shared decision-making. Further, this study contributes to an improved understanding of HNHC older patients to support continued development of effective care models for this population.

Adherence to Dysphagia Treatment Recommendations: A Conceptual Model

Purpose Conceptual models of complex health problems are useful when designing targeted clinical interventions and focused research studies. Understanding and studying patient adherence often involves interplay among many factors that influence whether a patient successfully follows recommendations or completes a therapy program. Functional frameworks serve to arrange these factors visually, increasing interpretability and allowing for empirical testing of relationships among concepts. The purpose of this article is to integrate relevant factors from the literature into a comprehensive framework that describes adherence to dysphagia treatment. Method Using peer-reviewed, published guidelines regarding conceptual model construction, the authors created a list of potential factors that influence patient adherence to dysphagia-related treatment recommendations. During model construction, following extensive review of the literature and existing theories that have been applied in other areas of health care, factors were identified and grouped into conceptually similar domains (clusters). Clusters were arranged into larger categories that emerged during model optimization. Ultimately, two models were created: one that illustrates the interrelated factors of patient adherence and another that illustrates a subset of modifiable risk factors that a clinical speech-language pathologist may influence when developing a dysphagia treatment plan. Results Three general categories from 14 factors emerged based on relationships between factors and aspects of patient care: health factors, individual patient factors, and contextual factors. A second model consisting of modifiable risk factors included access, treatment type, patient perceptions, self-efficacy, health literacy, support factors, and provider bias. Conclusions This conceptual model allows clinicians and researchers to identify and explore the mechanisms driving adherence. Continual refinements of this model should be made as future studies uncover how the interconnectedness of factors affects adherence in dysphagia management. The models we have presented here are ready for clinical application and should also serve researchers as they generate hypotheses and design targeted research questions.

Swallowing Disorders in the Older Population

Swallowing problems, or dysphagia, are common as people age, and are associated with significant negative outcomes, including weight loss, pneumonia, dehydration, shortened life expectancy, reduced quality of life, and increased caregiver burden. In this article, we will discuss the complex process of swallowing in normal circumstances and with healthy aging, then review etiologies that contribute to dysphagia. We will discuss approaches to evaluating and treating dysphagia, providing relevant data where they are available. We highlight the desperate need for high-quality research to guide best practices in treating dysphagia in older adults. J Am Geriatr Soc 67:2643-2649, 2019.

How Gender Stereotypes May Limit Female Faculty Advancement in Communication Sciences and Disorders

Purpose

The field of communication sciences and disorders (CSD) faces a critical shortage of the faculty essential to train the future workforce of speech-language pathologists and audiologists. Despite a predominance of women in the field, men receive doctoral degrees, tenure status, academic leadership positions, and American Speech-Language-Hearing Association awards at disproportionately higher rates than women. The purpose of this review is to explore how implicit gender bias may contribute to female faculty advancement, including current and projected faculty workforce shortages, and to propose tangible solutions.

Method

The authors present proportions of men and women who receive doctoral degrees, advance to each faculty rank, receive tenure status, hold department chairs in CSD, and receive American Speech-Language-Hearing Association honors and awards. They review ways in which cultural stereotypes give rise to implicit gender bias and discuss myriad ways that implicit gender bias may influence the decisions of students considering an academic career in CSD and their career trajectories.

Conclusions

Cultural stereotypes about men and women lead to implicit gender bias that may have real consequences for female faculty advancement in CSD. Such implicit bias can influence career selection and outcomes within the field in multiple ways. To ensure that CSD continues to attract top talent and maintain a robust pipeline of future faculty in doctoral training programs, the field must recognize the existence of implicit gender bias and implement evidence-based strategies to minimize its potentially damaging effects on the future of the profession.

Patient Adherence to Dysphagia Recommendations: A Systematic Review

Patient adherence to treatment recommendations is an important issue for healthcare providers, in a multitude of specialties, and is critical when assessing the efficacy and effectiveness of a particular treatment approach. Patients who have swallowing impairment often require complex and specific interventions requiring altered daily patterns of behavior. Patients with dysphagia who do not follow recommendations or prescribed exercises may not receive maximum benefit of an intervention. Poor adherence also makes it more difficult to evaluate efficacy of a treatment both clinically and in experimental settings. Further, swallow safety can be compromised if certain recommendations are not followed. Our purpose was to systematically review the literature to understand what is known about adherence within the field of dysphagia treatment. We systematically identified 12 studies that tracked and reported patient-specific adherence. In this review, we found that the average adherence rate from these studies ranges between 21.9 and 51.9%. Adherence to prophylactic treatment recommendations for patients with head and neck cancer was the focus in 9/12 studies. The findings of this review identify a large gap in knowledge regarding adherence to dysphagia treatment. Few studies account for adherence within their study designs. When planning dysphagia treatment studies, it is imperative that investigators include information regarding patient adherence to accurately interpret findings. Given the variable adherence rates found in this review, factors influencing patient adherence with dysphagia treatments should be identified to increase adherence in future trials.

Temporal Associations between Caregiving Approach, Behavioral Symptoms and Observable Indicators of Aspiration in Nursing Home Residents with Dementia

OBJECTIVES

Dysphagia, or impaired swallowing, is common in nursing home (NH) residents with dementia and contributes to malnutrition and diminished quality of life. Dysphagia also commonly leads to aspiration or passage of food or fluids into the airway, which can result in aspiration pneumonia-a leading cause of death for people with dementia. Currently available interventions for dysphagia aim to modify the risk of aspiration events primarily by modifying diet and positioning to improve the safety of an individual's swallow. However other potentially modifiable contextual factors relevant to mealtime care within NH settings that may influence the occurrence of aspiration events, such as the nature of caregiving interactions or occurrence of dementia-related behavioral symptoms, have not been examined. To address this gap, we examined the temporal associations between caregiving approach and behavioral symptoms as antecedents to observable indicators of aspiration among nursing home (NH) residents with dementia.

DESIGN

Secondary analysis of coded, timed-event behavioral data from 33 video-recorded observations of mealtime interactions between NH residents with dementia and caregivers.

SETTING/PARTICIPANTS

Residents with dementia who required assistance with mealtime care (n=12) and nursing assistants (n=8) from Memory Care Units (MCU) in 2 Midwestern NHs.

RESULTS

Observable indicators of aspiration were significantly more likely to occur during or following task-centered caregiver actions than person-centered actions (12% likelihood; Yule's Q 0.89; OR 95% CI 12.70-23.75) and 15-30 seconds after a behavioral symptom (5% likelihood; Yule's Q 0.65; OR 95% CI 4.18-8.57).

CONCLUSIONS

These findings provide compelling preliminary evidence that caregiver approach may influence the occurrence of aspiration. Provided the urgent need for more approaches to mitigate the complications associated with dysphagia in people with dementia, even a moderate reduction in aspiration events may be clinically meaningful. Further, well-designed observational studies with individuals with well-characterized dysphagia are needed to better understand and characterize these relationships, their temporal structures and their impacts on other relevant outcomes such as eating performance and malnutrition.

Effects of Device-Facilitated Isometric Progressive Resistance Oropharyngeal Therapy on Swallowing and Health-Related Outcomes in Older Adults with Dysphagia

Swallowing disorders (dysphagia) are associated with malnutrition, aspiration pneumonia, and mortality in older adults. Strengthening interventions have shown promising results, but the effectiveness of treating dysphagia in older adults remains to be established. The Swallow STRengthening OropharyNGeal (Swallow STRONG) Program is a multidisciplinary program that employs a specific approach to oropharyngeal strengthening-device-facilitated (D-F) isometric progressive resistance oropharyngeal (I-PRO) therapy-with the goal of reducing health-related sequelae in veterans with dysphagia. Participants completed 8 weeks of D-F I-PRO therapy while receiving nutritional counseling and respiratory status monitoring. Assessments were completed at baseline, 4, and 8 weeks. At each visit, videofluoroscopic swallowing studies were performed. Dietary and swallowing-related quality of life questionnaires were administered. Long-term monitoring for 6-17 months after enrollment allowed for comparison of pneumonia incidence and hospitalizations to the 6-17 months before the program. Veterans with dysphagia confirmed with videofluoroscopy (N = 56; 55 male, 1 female; mean age 70) were enrolled. Lingual pressures increased at anterior (effect estimate = 92.5, P < .001) and posterior locations (effect estimate = 85.4, P < .001) over 8 weeks. Statistically significant improvements occurred on eight of 11 subscales of the Quality of Life in Swallowing Disorders (SWAL-QOL) Questionnaire (effect estimates = 6.5-19.5, P < .04) and in self-reported sense of effort (effect estimate = -18.1, P = .001). Higher Functional Oral Intake Scale scores (effect estimate = 0.4, P = .02) indicated that participants were able to eat less-restrictive diets. There was a 67% reduction in pneumonia diagnoses, although the difference was not statistically significant. The number of hospital admissions decreased significantly (effect estimate = 0.96; P = .009) from before to after enrollment. Findings suggest that the Swallow STRONG multidisciplinary oropharyngeal strengthening program may be an effective treatment for older adults with dysphagia.

Bedside diagnosis of dysphagia: a systematic review

Dysphagia is associated with aspiration, pneumonia, and malnutrition, but remains challenging to identify at the bedside. A variety of exam protocols and maneuvers are commonly used, but the efficacy of these maneuvers is highly variable. We conducted a comprehensive search of 7 databases, including MEDLINE, Embase, and Scopus, from each database's earliest inception through June 9, 2014. Studies reporting diagnostic performance of a bedside examination maneuver compared to a reference gold standard (videofluoroscopic swallow study or flexible endoscopic evaluation of swallowing with sensory testing) were included for analysis. From each study, data were abstracted based on the type of diagnostic method and reference standard study population and inclusion/exclusion characteristics, design, and prediction of aspiration. The search strategy identified 38 articles meeting inclusion criteria. Overall, most bedside examinations lacked sufficient sensitivity to be used for screening purposes across all patient populations examined. Individual studies found dysphonia assessments, abnormal pharyngeal sensation assessments, dual axis accelerometry, and 1 description of water swallow testing to be sensitive tools, but none were reported as consistently sensitive. A preponderance of identified studies was in poststroke adults, limiting the generalizability of results. No bedside screening protocol has been shown to provide adequate predictive value for presence of aspiration. Several individual exam maneuvers demonstrated reasonable sensitivity, but reproducibility and consistency of these protocols was not established. More research is needed to design an optimal protocol for dysphagia detection.