Screening of dysphagia in relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis patients in Montenegro

To perform screening of dysphagia in Montenegrin multiple sclerosis (MS) patients. Dysphagia is often neglected problem in patients with MS.

We included 104 patients with relapsing-remitting MS who completed 3 questionnaires: dysphagia in multiple sclerosis (DYMUS), eating assessment tool-10 (EAT-10) and swallowing disturbance questionnaire (SDQ). Our study was performed in the clinic for neurology of the Clinical Center of Montenegro (Podgorica, Montenegro) and Polyclinic Neuron (Bijelo Polje, Montenegro) between November 2020 and December 2020.

Self-reported prevalence of this symptom in our group was simmilar to previously reported results. We did not find correlation between DYMUS and expanded disability status scale (EDSS), as it was reported before. Time spent from disease onset to diagnosis is strongly correlated with reported SDQ results. The population of dysphagia-patients is statistically significantly older compared to the non-dysphagia patients, and statistically higher mean values in this population of our subjects were proven on all 3 questionnaires used.

The importance of this issue is not just because it warns of potientially malnutrion in MS patients, but also important factor in therapy choosing algorithm in the era of orally used immunomodulatory drugs.