Swallowing Function in COVID-19 Patients After Invasive Mechanical Ventilation

Area of Science:

• Medical Rehabilitation
• Infectious Diseases
• Pulmonology

Background:

• COVID-19 survivors requiring invasive mechanical ventilation often experience post-extubation dysphagia.
• Assessing swallowing function is crucial for recovery and preventing complications.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate swallowing function in COVID-19 patients post-mechanical ventilation using the Functional Oral Intake Scale (FOIS).
• To identify risk factors associated with delayed swallowing recovery.

Main Methods:

• A longitudinal cohort study was conducted with 28 invasively ventilated COVID-19 patients.
• Speech and language pathology (SLP) assessments evaluated swallowing function (FOIS) at baseline and discharge.
• Data on comorbidities, frailty, ventilation duration, and tracheostomy were collected.

Main Results:

• 71% of patients presented with dysphagia at baseline, with a median FOIS score of 2.
• Dysphagia was associated with older age, hypertension, and longer invasive ventilation/tracheostomy duration.
• Swallowing function improved significantly by hospital discharge (median FOIS score 5), but difficulties persisted for many.

Conclusions:

• Dysphagia is prevalent in COVID-19 patients after invasive mechanical ventilation.
• Longer hospital and ICU stays correlate with poorer swallowing outcomes.
• Early SLP intervention is vital for improving oral intake and recovery in this population.