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ABSTRACT: Objectives
this prospective, cluster randomised, controlled trial investigated the effect of oral neuromuscular training among older people in intermediate care with impaired swallowing.Methods
older people (≥65 years) with swallowing dysfunction were cluster randomised according to care units for 5 weeks of neuromuscular training of the orofacial and pharyngeal muscles or usual care. The primary endpoint was the change in swallowing rate (assessed with a timed water swallow test) from baseline to the end-of-treatment and 6 months post-treatment. The secondary endpoints were changes in signs of aspiration during the water swallow test, and swallowing-related quality of life (QOL). An intention-to-treat principle was followed, and mixed-effects models were used for data analysis with the clustered study design as a random factor.Results
in total, 385 participants from 36 intermediate care units were screened, and 116 participants were randomly assigned to oral neuromuscular training (intervention; n = 49) or usual care (controls; n = 67). At the end of treatment, the geometric mean of the swallowing rate in the intervention group had significantly improved 60% more than that of controls (P = 0.007). At 6 months post-treatment, the swallowing rate of the intervention group remained significantly better (P = 0.031). Signs of aspiration also significantly reduced in the intervention group compared with controls (P = 0.01). No significant between-group differences were found for swallowing-related QOL.Conclusions
oral neuromuscular training is a new promising swallowing rehabilitation method among older people in intermediate care with impaired swallowing.Trial registration
ClinicalTrials.gov: NCT02825927.
SUBMITTER: Hagglund P
PROVIDER: S-EPMC6593320 | biostudies-literature | 2019 Jul
REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature
Hägglund Patricia P Hägg Mary M Wester Per P Levring Jäghagen Eva E
Age and ageing 20190701 4
<h4>Objectives</h4>this prospective, cluster randomised, controlled trial investigated the effect of oral neuromuscular training among older people in intermediate care with impaired swallowing.<h4>Methods</h4>older people (≥65 years) with swallowing dysfunction were cluster randomised according to care units for 5 weeks of neuromuscular training of the orofacial and pharyngeal muscles or usual care. The primary endpoint was the change in swallowing rate (assessed with a timed water swallow test ...[more]