Spontaneous swallowing frequency has potential to identify dysphagia in acute stroke.

ABSTRACT:

Background and purpose

Spontaneous swallowing frequency has been described as an index of dysphagia in various health conditions. This study evaluated the potential of spontaneous swallow frequency analysis as a screening protocol for dysphagia in acute stroke.

Methods

In a cohort of 63 acute stroke cases, swallow frequency rates (swallows per minute [SPM]) were compared with stroke and swallow severity indices, age, time from stroke to assessment, and consciousness level. Mean differences in SPM were compared between patients with versus without clinically significant dysphagia. Receiver operating characteristic curve analysis was used to identify the optimal threshold in SPM, which was compared with a validated clinical dysphagia examination for identification of dysphagia

SUBMITTER: Crary MA 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3902546 | biostudies-literature | 2013 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature