A Predictive Model for Oropharyngeal Dysphagia in Non-hospitalized Older Patients

A Predictive Model for Oropharyngeal Dysphagia in Non-hospitalized Older Patients: Building Bridges Between Detection and Decision-making

Oropharyngeal dysphagia (OD) is a highly prevalent and growing condition in the older population. It affects approximately one in three community-dwelling elderly, almost half of the geriatric patients, and even more than half of elderly nursing home residents.

The main complications of OD are respiratory infections such as aspiration pneumonia, malnutrition, and dehydration. It supposes substantial costs for the healthcare system, increases the risk for (re)admissions and length of stay, and has an important impact on the quality of life of people who suffer from it.

The aim of this study is to develop a predictive model to identify non-hospitalized older patients at risk for oropharyngeal dysphagia, quantify that risk, and facilitate decision-making according to personal, clinical, and socio-emotional characteristics.

Given the high prevalence of Oropharyngeal Dysphagia (OD) in older people and the difficulty to detect it, the investigators purpose to develop a predictive model to identify non-hospitalized older patients at risk for OD, quantify that risk, and facilitate decision-making.

Objectives:

Main objective:

- Develop a predictive model for oropharyngeal dysphagia in non-hospitalized older patients (≥ 65 years).

Secondary objectives:

• Identify predictive factors for OD among the studied population.
• Contribute to the characterization of OD in older people through a retrospective analysis of videofluoroscopic studies and clinical evaluations.
• Define different models of intervention from a multidimensional approach.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Older people between 65 and 99 years.
• Swallowing assessed with Videofluoroscopy
• Non-hospitalized patients (swallowing assessed on an outpatient basis)

Exclusion Criteria:

• There are no exclusion criteria in relation to the gender or ethnicity of the participants. Failure to meet one of the inclusion criteria will result in the participant's exclusion from the study sample.