The english version of the website is under development. Wherever text appears in Greek, it means it has not been translated yet.

Δημοσίευση

Dysphagia Prevalence, Attitudes, and Related Quality of Life in Patients with Multiple Sclerosis.

TitleDysphagia Prevalence, Attitudes, and Related Quality of Life in Patients with Multiple Sclerosis.
Publication TypeJournal Article
Year of Publication2020
AuthorsPrintza, A., Triaridis S., Kalaitzi M., Nikolaidis I., Bakirtzis C., Constantinidis J., & Grigoriadis N.
JournalDysphagia
Volume35
Issue4
Pagination677-684
Date Published2020 08
ISSN1432-0460
Abstract

Dysphagia in patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) is associated with significant morbidity and has profound impact on the quality of life (QoL). This study aimed to analyze the dysphagia prevalence, attitudes, and dysphagia-related QoL in patients with MS, not at relapse. A prospective study of 108 consecutively recruited patients. The patients were asked to report dysphagia and completed a general dysphagia questionnaire (the Eating Assessment Tool-10, EAT-10), a disease-specific dysphagia questionnaire (the Dysphagia in Multiple Sclerosis, DYMUS), and a dysphagia-related QoL questionnaire (the Swallowing-Quality of Life). Twenty-six percent of the patients reported dysphagia. Many more were classified as dysphagic by the questionnaires (34.3% by EAT-10 and 44.4% by DYMUS). Overall, one out of four patients reported difficulties or choking while drinking fluids and eating food, cough related to eating, food sticking in the throat, need for food and drink segmentation, and repetitive swallows. The pleasure of eating was found to be moderately affected. The patients seem to cope well with the psychological and social impact of dysphagia. Serious consideration must be given to patients' perceptions and attitudes towards dysphagia. Our patients reported very little fear associated with their swallowing difficulties and choking. Apparently, they do not perceive the severity of their symptoms as an actual danger, as they have developed coping strategies. Dysphagia is common in MS patients not at relapse, even with mild disease-related impairment. Swallowing should be systematically assessed with validated questionnaires in all patients with MS at the course of the disease.

DOI10.1007/s00455-019-10075-0
Alternate JournalDysphagia
PubMed ID31701212

Contact

Secretariat of the School of Medicine
 

Connect

School of Medicine's presence in social networks
Follow Us or Connect with us.