Drooling may be Associated with Dysphagia Symptoms in Multiple Sclerosis

Area of Science:

• Neurology
• Clinical Research

Background:

• Drooling (sialorrhea) is a common but often overlooked symptom in persons with multiple sclerosis (PwMS).
• The underlying causes of sialorrhea in PwMS remain poorly understood, necessitating further investigation into potential risk factors.

Purpose of the Study:

• To identify and assess potential risk factors associated with drooling in individuals with multiple sclerosis.
• To explore the relationship between drooling and other MS-related symptoms such as dysphagia and fatigue.

Main Methods:

• A comparative study involving 20 PwMS with drooling and 19 PwMS without drooling.
• Utilized the Dysphagia in Multiple Sclerosis Questionnaire (DYMUS), Fatigue Severity Scale (FSS), and objective saliva flow rate measurements.
• Employed univariate and multivariate logistic regression models to analyze risk factors.

Main Results:

• PwMS with drooling showed significantly higher DYMUS scores and submandibular/sublingual saliva flow rates.
• Fatigue Severity Scale (FSS) and saliva flow rate were identified as risk factors in the univariate analysis.
• The Dysphagia in Multiple Sclerosis Questionnaire (DYMUS) emerged as the sole significant risk factor for drooling in the multivariate analysis.

Conclusions:

• This study establishes a significant link between drooling and dysphagia symptoms in persons with multiple sclerosis.
• Dysphagia, as indicated by DYMUS scores, is a primary risk factor for drooling in PwMS.
• Findings provide a basis for understanding drooling in MS and guiding treatment strategies.