Screening av dysfagi på äldreboenden i Linköpings kommun

Sammanfattning: Changes in swallowing function are common in elderly and chronically ill individuals. Therefore it is important to be aware of these changes and their prevalence. The aim of this study was to assess the prevalence of dysphagia in nursing homes in the municipality of Linköping, and to correlate dysphagia with variables that can be a cause or a consequence of dysphagia. These variables were gender, age, MMT-result, dentition, weight loss, medical diagnose or number of medications. The intention was also to examine the additional information regarding dysphagia supplied by pulse oximetry. Sixty nursing home residents aged 74-101 years were chosen to participate in the study. The individual's ability to participate was based on their result on Mini-mental state and subjective judgements made by staff members and the authors. The material to assess oral motor and sensory function was the Nordic Orofacial Test - Screening. During the clinical swallowing examination the Standardised Swallowing Assessment (SSA) and pulse oximetry were used. In addition, data regarding the participants' medical diagnoses, number of medications and possible weight loss was collected. The result showed that the prevalence of dysphagia and suspected dysphagia was 40 %. Oral dysphagia was present in 20 participants and pharyngeal dysphagia in seven participants. With pulse oximetry one participant with dysphagia and two with suspected dysphagia were identified in addition to those identified by SSA. Analysis of the assessed variables showed no correlations or any significant results.