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Updated: Jan 15, 2026

Oral Health Assessment by Lay Personnel for Older Adults
Published on: February 2, 2020
Self-Reported Dysphagia and Laryngopharyngeal Reflux among a Community-Dwelling Elderly Rural Population
Giorgos Sideris1, Melina Kourklidou1, John Plioutas1
1Second Otolaryngology Department, School of Medicine, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Attikon University Hospital, Athens, Greece.
Introduction:
There is a lack of community-dwelling population-based examinations of geriatric dysphagia and laryngopharyngeal reflux (LPR).
Objective:
To assess the prevalence of geriatric dysphagia and laryngopharyngeal reflux (LPR) in a community-dwelling population from a rural area.
Methods:
Volunteers from Velestino, a 4,000-person community, were given the Eating Assessment Tool (EAT-10) and Reflux Symptom Index (RSI) questionnaires at the health center. Demographic, medical, and pharmaceutical histories were recorded.
Results:
160 participants (92 females, 68 males) self-presented. Ages were between 65-95 years (Mean 76.04). 27 (16.88%) scored an abnormal EAT-10 and 13 (8.13%) RSI over 13. RSI was statistically correlated with total and positive only EAT-10 scores. Age and gender did not affect EAT-10 or RSI scores. The EAT-10 score decreased with age progression.
Conclusion:
This is one of the few studies to investigate the relationship between geriatric dysphagia and LPR in a rural population. A 23.0% prevalence of dysphagia was observed in elderly adults as well as an increase in both EAT-10 and RSI scores with age progression. More studies are needed to explore this field.
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