Eating Assessment Tool (EAT-10) Scores to Detect Self-Reported Dysphagia in Brazilians

Area of Science:

• Otolaryngology
• Gastroenterology
• Speech-Language Pathology

Background:

• Dysphagia is a common condition affecting swallowing function.
• Patient-reported outcomes are crucial for assessing dysphagia.
• The Eating Assessment Tool (EAT-10) is a validated instrument for self-reported dysphagia.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the scores, sensitivity, and specificity of the EAT-10 in a Brazilian population.
• To determine an appropriate cutoff score for self-reported dysphagia in Brazilians.
• To compare EAT-10 results between healthy individuals and patients with dysphagia.

Main Methods:

• A cross-sectional study involving 443 healthy individuals and 72 patients with dysphagia.
• Participants completed the 10-item EAT-10, with scores ranging from 0 to 40.
• Statistical analysis was performed to determine sensitivity, specificity, and predictive values.

Main Results:

• The median EAT-10 score for healthy subjects was 0, while for patients it was 14.5.
• A cutoff score of ≥3 yielded 97.2% sensitivity and 90.7% specificity for dysphagia.
• Healthy women reported higher EAT-10 scores and more dysphagia indicators than healthy men.

Conclusions:

• The EAT-10 is a reliable tool for detecting self-reported dysphagia in Brazilians with a cutoff score of 3.
• The instrument demonstrates high sensitivity and specificity in this population.
• Further research may explore gender differences in self-reported dysphagia symptoms.