Esophageal Transit Times Vary with Underlying Comorbid Disease

Little is known about esophageal transit times (ETT) in relation to underlying comorbid disease or aspiration risk. Our study evaluated liquid ETT in patients relative to underlying comorbid disease and compared this with ETT in healthy adults. We examined whether prolonged ETT was associated with swallow risk.

Prospective observational study.

Radiology department.

Patients included those referred to speech pathology for a videofluoroscopic study of swallowing (VFSS) within a tertiary hospital.

A total of 617 patients (49% female; mean ± SD age, 77 ± 15 years) and 139 healthy adults (56% female; age, 59 ± 22 years) were included. All patients underwent a standardized VFSS with esophageal screening. Patients were categorized by chief underlying disorder: previous stroke (n = 207), other neurologic condition (n = 188), respiratory conditions (n = 91), or gastroenterology conditions (n = 131). All VFSSs were analyzed with objective measures. ETT and penetration-aspiration scores were compared between groups.

Advancing age was significantly associated with increased ETT (P < .05). When controlling for age, mean 20-mL ETT remained significantly different across groups: healthy adults, 11 seconds; stroke, 17 seconds; other neurologic condition, 15 seconds; gastroenterology, 14 seconds; and respiratory, 9 seconds (P < .001). One-third of patients aspirated; no healthy adults aspirated. Increasing ETT was associated with aspiration events (P < .001).

Liquid ETTs differ among patients with different underlying primary diagnoses. Patients following stroke show significantly prolonged ETT and increased risk of aspiration. Prolonged ETT may influence symptom complaint and warrants consideration.