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Dysphagia Is an Underrecognized Risk Factor for Viral Pneumonia Severity
Michael S Pulia1,2, Rachelle Herrin3, Raele Donetha Robison4,5
1BerbeeWalsh Department of Emergency Medicine, University of Wisconsin Madison School of Medicine and Public Health, 800 University Bay Drive Suite 310, Madison, WI, 53705, USA. mspulia@medicine.wisc.edu.
Pre-existing dysphagia increases the risk of severe COVID-19 in adults over 50. This condition was independently associated with higher COVID-19 severity scores in older patients.
Area of Science:
- Gerontology
- Infectious Diseases
- Epidemiology
Background:
- COVID-19 poses significant risks to older adults.
- Dysphagia, or difficulty swallowing, is a common comorbidity in older populations.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate if pre-existing dysphagia is a risk factor for severe COVID-19 outcomes.
- To analyze the association between dysphagia and COVID-19 severity in adults aged 50 and above.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective cohort study utilizing electronic health records from two Midwestern emergency departments (EDs).
- Inclusion criteria: patients aged ≥50 years, tested positive for SARS-COV-2 during an ED visit.
- Primary outcome: highest World Health Organization COVID-19 clinical severity score (≥4 considered severe) within 30 days of ED arrival.
Main Results:
- Patients with dysphagia (n=40) were more likely to develop severe COVID-19 than those without (65.0% vs. 41.3%, p=0.015).
- Multivariable analysis revealed pre-existing dysphagia (OR 2.38) and diabetes (OR 2.42) were independently associated with increased odds of severe COVID-19.
Conclusions:
- Pre-existing dysphagia is an independent risk factor for severe COVID-19 in adults aged 50 years and older.
- Healthcare providers should consider dysphagia status when assessing COVID-19 risk in older patients.
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