[Correlation between EAT-10 screening and MECV-V clinical assessment in hospitalized patients at risk of dysphagia]

oropharyngeal dysphagia (OD) is highly prevalent and leads to severe complications. It requires screening (EAT-10) and confirmatory clinical tests (MECV-V), which frequently yield disparate results.

to correlate the EAT-10 and the MECV-V in hospitalized patients at risk for dysphagia (EAT-10 ≥ 3), identify associated factors, and analyze predictors of survival.

a cross-sectional study was conducted in Pulmonology and Gastroenterology units involving patients at risk for dysphagia (EAT-10 ≥ 3). All subjects were evaluated using the MECV-V. Various sociodemographic, clinical, and functional variables were collected, alongside alterations in safety and efficacy, and survival data.

of the 315 patients included, 79 % (n = 249) were diagnosed with OD. The correlation between the total EAT-10 score and the diagnosis of OD was moderate (r = 0,33); notably, in patients with low scores (3-8 points), 50,8 % presented with objective OD. Patients with OD exhibited advanced age (p = 0,025), higher comorbidity (p = 0.024), poorer functional status (p < 0.0001), and an increased risk of pressure ulcers (p < 0.0001). Alterations in efficacy were more prevalent, and piecemeal deglutition was identified as the most robust predictor of OD. Pharyngeal residue and age were the variables with the greatest predictive capacity for survival.

the EAT-10 tool is useful for identifying patients at risk, but its correlation with the MECV-V is moderate; therefore, it must be accompanied by an objective clinical evaluation. Piecemeal deglutition is a strong clinical predictor of OD. The presence of pharyngeal residues is associated with poorer survival outcomes.