Dysphagia Prevalence in Brazil, UK, China, and Indonesia and Dysphagic Patient Preferences

Dysphagia is common, but there is limited information about its prevalence and patient preferences regarding dosage forms (oral solids, liquids, topical, etc.) in Brazil, China, the United Kingdom (UK), and Indonesia.

We conducted an online survey of 1000 adults from each country, without any required disease, to estimate the prevalence of dysphagia in these four nations and the dosage form preferences among UK patients.

A total of 36.9%, 40.5%, 54.9%, and 64.5% from the UK, Indonesia, Brazil, and China, respectively, had an Eating Assessment Tool (EAT-10) score of ≥3 (indicative of dysphagia). Only 2% of UK respondents and 5% of Brazilian respondents reported a formal diagnosis of dysphagia. Indonesian (74%) and Chinese respondents (77%) were more likely than Brazilian (52%) and UK respondents (45%) to report that their swallowing problems affected their ability to adhere to medication instructions. Liquids were the oral medication formulation most preferred by those who reported difficulty swallowing.

To conclude, substantial populations have difficulty swallowing, which can translate into an access issue for medical treatment. The availability of people's preferred dosage forms may help alleviate the adherence issues associated with difficulty swallowing and the concomitant effects on health outcomes.