Long-term functional outcome in patients with neurogenic dysphagia

The purpose of this prospective cohort study was: (1) to document and investigate long-term post-treatment outcome focusing on swallowing disability; and (2) to reveal variables predicting successful functional follow-up results in 63 patients with neurogenic dysphagia. All patients were admitted to an inpatient neurologic rehabilitation unit.

Information was gathered through chart review and questionnaires. Functional outcome was categorized according to the degree of feeding status: (1) total tube feeding; (2) oral and tube feeding combined; (3) oral feeding with compensation; and (4) total oral feeding. 'Improvement' was determined as a positive shift in the type of feeding, 'deterioration' as a negative shift and 'no change' was defined as remaining at the same nutritional level. The safety of feeding was assessed by tracking the occurrence of pneumonia.

Seventy percent of the patients achieved an improved immediate outcome after therapy. During long-term follow-up examinations, 43% of all patients showed further improvement, 57% did not show any change in their feeding ability and no deterioration was reported for any patient. Comparisons of the relative frequencies of the feeding modalities before and after therapy revealed a significant reduction in tube feeders and a significant increase in oral feeders with compensation during inpatient-treatment. The outpatient-interval showed a significant shift in total oral feeders without compensations but no significant improvement within the tube feeders and within the partial oral feeders. The improvement in nutritional status was not associated with an increased risk of pneumonia. Additional comparisons of the relative frequencies of the compensatory strategies indicated a significant reduction in all treatment techniques at final follow-up. Using logistic regression, predictors of successful post-discharge outcome involved a decreasing pre-treatment interval and unexpectedly low Barthel-ADL mobility scores.

As a result we advocate regular follow-up controls using videofluoroscopic and/or videoendoscopic examination. This facilitates comparisons of swallowing efficiency with and without compensation in order to reduce compensatory strategies as early as possible. The analysis of predictive variables suggests early use of therapy to enhance the chances of successful long-term outcome.