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Updated: Jul 17, 2026

Adapting Human Videofluoroscopic Swallow Study Methods to Detect and Characterize Dysphagia in Murine Disease Models
Published on: March 1, 2015
Simple clinical tests may predict severe oropharyngeal dysphagia in Parkinson's disease
Kuen Lam1, Florence Kwai Yi Lam, Kwok Kwong Lau
1Department of Medicine and Geriatrics, Caritas Medical Centre, Hong Kong. lam_kuen@yahoo.com.hk
Objective:
To determine if simple screening tests can predict severe oropharyngeal dysphagia in subjects with Parkinson's disease.
Methodology:
Forty-five subjects (26 females) of average age 75 (range: 65-94) who were classified as Modified Hoehn and Yahr stages 2 to 5 were enrolled. The presence of oropharyngeal dysphagia was assessed by a symptom questionnaire, 50 ml water swallowing test and videofluroscopic swallowing study.
Results:
Six of the subjects had severe oropharyngeal dysphagia in videofluroscopic swallowing study. Subsequent multivariate analysis showed that 3 factors could independently predict severe oropharyngeal dysphagia. These included higher Modified Hoehn and Yahr stage (P = 0.042), low Body mass index (P = 0.014), and increased difficulty in keeping food or drink in the mouth (P = 0.047). The regression model had a positive predictive power of 96% (sensitivity: 83.3%, specificity: 97.4%).
Conclusion:
A combination of 3 simple clinical parameters may be useful for screening for severe oropharyngeal dysphagia as shown radiologically in subjects with Parkinson's disease.
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