Functional prognosis in patients with sarcopenic dysphagia: An observational cohort study from the Japanese sarcopenic dysphagia database

• Published in: Geriatrics & gerontology international Vol. 22; no. 10; pp. 839 - 845
• Main Authors: Nagai, Takako, Wakabayashi, Hidetaka, Nishioka, Shinta, Momosaki, Ryo
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Kyoto, Japan John Wiley & Sons Australia, Ltd 01-10-2022; Blackwell Publishing Ltd
• Subjects: Activities of Daily Living; activity of daily living; Cohort analysis; Cohort Studies; Confidence intervals; Deglutition Disorders - diagnosis; Deglutition Disorders - etiology; Dysphagia; Food; functional prognosis; Humans; Japan; nutrition; Observational studies; Prognosis; Sarcopenia; Sarcopenia - complications; Sarcopenia - diagnosis; Japan; dysphagia; nutrition; activity of daily living; functional prognosis; sarcopenia
• ISSN: 1444-1586; 1447-0594
• DOI: 10.1111/ggi.14466

Aim
In sarcopenic dysphagia, confirmation of recovery of the swallowing function and activity of daily living is insufficient. The aim of this study was to examine differences in the recovery of the swallowing function and activities of daily living between sarcopenic dysphagia patients and non‐sarcopenic dysphagia patients.
Methods
The registry data of the Japanese Sarcopenic Dysphagia Database were used for the analysis; 440 patients met the eligibility criteria of the study. Dysphagia was evaluated according to the Food Intake Level Scale and a five‐step diagnostic algorithm for the disorder. Patients were divided into two groups according to the presence or absence of sarcopenic dysphagia.
Results
Sarcopenic dysphagia was found in 268 cases (60.9%). The rate of improvement in the Food Intake Level Scale was 47.4% in sarcopenic dysphagia patients and 62.2% in non‐sarcopenic dysphagia patients. The rate of improvement in the Food Intake Level Scale was lower in the sarcopenic dysphagia patients (P = 0.008). A multiple regression analysis showed that the presence of sarcopenic dysphagia had a significant influence on changes in the Food Intake Level Scale and Barthel Index (β = −0.191, 95% confidence interval, −1.484 to −0.530, P < 0.001, β = 0.112, 95% confidence interval, 0.587 to 10.450, P = 0.028).
Conclusion
Improvement in the swallowing function was poor in patients with sarcopenic dysphagia. Sarcopenic dysphagia should be examined to improve swallowing function. Geriatr Gerontol Int 2022; 22: 839–845.