Prevalence and characterization of dysphagia in hospitalized patients.

Background Information on the prevalence of dysphagia in a generalized hospitalized population is lacking. We aimed to gain information on the recognition of dysphagia by nursing staff and the swallow characteristics of patients with and without dysphagia. Methods The Eating Assessment Tool (EAT-10) and the volume-viscosity water swallow test (VVST) were utilized to assess the prevalence of dysphagia in a generalized hospitalized population in 2 centers (N = 205). Presence of dysphagia was defined as having either an EAT-10 score of 2 or higher or having a positive VVST. Nursing staff recognition of dysphagia was assessed. In addition, the swallow characteristics were assessed both clinically and using submandibular surface electromyographic (SEMG) values of the participants. Key Results The prevalence of dysphagia in the hospitalized patients was 30.7%. Nursing staff did hardly ever recognize the presence of dysphagia. Concerning the swallow characteristics, patients with dysphagia demonstrated an increase in the SEMG peak levels of the swallowing actions over the course of an exercise from 103 to 110 mu V (P = .05), whereas patients without dysphagia did not demonstrate this effect. Conclusions & Inferences Training should be conducted for nursing staff to improve awareness and recognition of dysphagia and thus prevent dysphagia complications. Dysphagia is a large burden on the hospitalized population, and further research should be conducted into the specifics.