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Consequences

Dysphagia has tremendous impact on the quality of life of the patient and can potentially be fatal [1]. Patients with dysphagia are at high risk of aspiration, malnutrition and dehydratation [2,5,6]

Living with dysphagia presents significant risks

Dysphagia has tremendous impact on the quality of life of the patient and can potentially be fatal [1].

51% suffer from Aspiration [1,3,4] Dysphagia patients are at high risk of choking and aspiration if they do not get the prescribed consistency [1,3,4]
48% are Malnourished [5]

75% are Dehydrated [6]		 Dysphagia patients tend to eat and drink less resulting in a food and fluid intake that doesn’t meet nutritional needs. The underlying condition may also contribute to malnutrition.

The patients point of view

The social and psychological impact of dysphagia has not been routinely examined in studies, however a study on 360 patients with dysphagia found the following results[7]:

  • 32% reported still being hungry and thirsty after their meal
  • 36% avoided eating with others
  • 41% experienced anxiety or panic during mealtime
  • 50% claimed they were eating less
  • 55% said that swallowing difficulties made their life less enjoyable

References

  1. Day, C. Pell, D. How safe is that thickened drink? Complete Nutrition. 2007;7(2):49-51. 7.
  2. Lundy DS, Smith C, Colangelo L, et al., Aspiration: cause and implications. Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg. 1999;120(4):474.
  3. Raut VV, McKee GJ, Johnston BT. Effect of bolus consistency on swallowing—does altering consistency help? Eur Arch Otorhinolaryngol. 2001 Jan;258(1):49-53
  4. Bisch EM, Logemann JA, Rademaker AW, Kahrilas PJ, Lazarus CL. Pharyngeal effects of bolus volume, viscosity, and temperature in patients with dysphagia resulting from neurologic impairment and in normal subjects. J Speech Hear Res. 1994 Oct;37(5):1041-59.
  5. Felt P. Nutritional Management of Dysphagia in the Healthcare Setting. Healthcare Caterer. 2006;Spring 2006
  6. Leibovitz A, Baumoehl Y, Lubart E, Yaina A, Platinovitz N, Segal R. Dehydration among longterm care elderly patients with oropharyngeal dysphagia. Gerontology. 2007;53(4):179-83.
  7. Ekberg O, Hamdy S, Woisard V, Wuttge-Hannig A, Ortega P. Social and psychological burden of dysphagia: its impact on diagnosis and treatment. Dysphagia. 2002 Spring;17(2):139-46