Does nutritional treatment in patients with dysphagia affect malnutrition and anxiety?

Introduction: dysphagia is common in patients with cerebrovascular disease (CVD), with an incidence reported to be 35 %-50 %. Dysphagia can result in malnutrition, dehydration, and death, and negatively affects anxiety levels. Objectives: this study aimed to evaluate the effects of recommended nutritional treatment (NT) on nutritional status and anxiety levels in patients with dysphagia based on clinical and fiber-optic endoscopic evaluation of swallowing (FEES) tests. Methods: seventy-five patients over the age of 50 who were diagnosed with CVD, hospitalized at the Mersin City Research and Training Hospital, Neurology Clinic, from October 2019 to January 2020 were followed up for the study. The FEES test was performed to diagnose dysphagia in CVD patients. Anthropometric measurements of the patients were taken to calculate their body mass index (BMI) values. To determine a patient's daily energy and food intake, 24-h food recalls were taken, and the Nutritional Risk Screening 2002 (NRS 2002) test was used to identify patients at risk of malnutrition. State (SAI)-Trait Anxiety Inventories (TAI) were used to determine instant and general anxiety levels. After patient evaluations NT was provided. All evaluations were repeated 8 weeks after NT. Our study was carried out based on a longitudinal design since we worked with the same units at two different time points. Results: post-NT SAI scores were significantly lower than pre-NT scores (p < 0.05). A moderate correlation was found between pre- and post-NT SAI scores and daily energy and fluid intake status, and between TAI scores and daily energy, fat, and fluid intake amounts (p < 0.05). Post-NT SAI scores significantly decreased with both NRS 2002 and BMI values (p < 0.05). Conclusions: this study highlights the importance of NT in improving rehabilitation outcomes of patients with dysphagia. Since exercises such as postural techniques or maneuvers, and muscle strengthening to reduce swallowing difficulties are an important part of NT for dysphagia, a multidisciplinary study is required for the management of dysphagia, and further studies are needed on this subject.