[Mealtime duration - a predictive factor for dysphagia]

Introduction: Dysphagia (swallowing disorder) is increasingly observed among patients with acquired brain injuries, with its occurrence reported in nearly half of the cases. Objective: The aim of the study was to compare the mealtime durations of dysphagic and non-dysphagic patients with acquired brain injuries who were admitted to the Severe Brain Injury Unit of the Department of Neurosurgery at the Clinical Center of the University of Pécs between September 2021 and September 2022. Method: During the prospective study we measured the meal times of 5 lunches for patients who met the criteria. Using statistical analysis and demographic data, we sought to confirm our hypotheses that the mealtime duration of dysphagic patients is longer than that of non-dysphagic patients, that cognitive dysfunctions influence and prolong mealtime duration, and that the mealtime duration of dysphagic patients is shorter than the threshold of 45 minutes mentioned in the literature. A total of 30 patients were included in the study: 15 dysphagic and 15 non-dysphagic. Results: Based on the results, a significant difference (p = 0.001) was found between the dysphagic and control group; the average mealtime duration of dysphagic patients was longer than that of their non-dysphagic counterparts. In this study, we could not prove the influence of cognitive dysfunctions. The longest measured mealtime duration we have measured was 25 minutes, meaning no participant reached the duration mentioned in the literature. Conclusion: In Hungarian hospital settings, mealtime duration as a predictive factor for dysphagia has not been previously measured. This study also confirms the prolonged mealtime duration mentioned in international literature, albeit not to the same extent. However, we obtained an approximate value for prolonged mealtime duration. Orv Hetil. 2025; 166(23): 907–912.