A Retrospective Review of Clinical Characteristics and Risk Factors of Dysphagia in Patients with Dermatomyositis

Dermatomyositis is a rare autoimmune-mediated disease characterised by distinctive rash and progressive muscle weakness. Patients with dermatomyositis may develop swallowing disorders (dysphagia) due to the inflammation of muscles involved in swallowing which may lead to serious health consequences. However, to date, the clinical characteristics of and risk factors for dysphagia in dermatomyositis remain poorly understood. This retrospective study aimed to identify the characteristics and risk factors for dysphagia in dermatomyositis.

All patients with clinical diagnosis of dermatomyositis (ICD-9-CM 701.3) were identified and retrieved retrospectively via hospital electronic record over a 10-year period for review.

A total of 231 patients were identified with 149 fulfilled the inclusion criteria (median age [range] = 54.5 [3-92] years; 51 males) were recruited. The incidence of dysphagia was 18.8%, with predominantly pharyngeal phase impairments. Six patients had silent aspiration. Dysphagia was positively correlated with the age of diagnosis (r[148] = 0.187, p = 0.023), mortality (r[149] = 0.186, p = 0.023), presence of underlying malignancy (r[149] = 0.222, p = 0.007), methylprednisolone use (r[149] = 0.166, p = 0.042) and intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIg; r[149] = 0.217, p = 0.008), and negatively correlated with disease duration (r[147]=-0.273, p < 0.001). Moreover, it was more likely to have symptomatic dysphagia in patients prescribing systemic corticosteroid (OR[95%CI] = 4.43[1.02, 19.27], p = 0.047) and IVIg (OR[95%CI] = 6.39[1.14, 35.68], p = 0.035).

Dysphagia was associated with advanced age, increased mortality and malignancy in patients with dermatomyositis. Routine screening of dysphagia is recommended at initial diagnosis and severe disease activity requiring high dose systemic steroid and IVIg use.