Preoperativ SWAL-QOL och sväljningsfunktion hos Parkinson patienter selekterade till Deep Brain Stimulation

Sammanfattning: Abstract Objective Patients with Parkinson’s disease often have symptoms of dysphagia. These swallowingproblems have consequences for quality of life as well for the physical wellbeing of thepatients. AimThe aim of this study was to describe and correlate Swallowing Quality of Life (SWAL-QOL)scores, self-assessment of swallowing function using a visual analogue scale and the resultsfrom a fiber endoscopic evaluation of swallowing function in patients who had been selectedfor Deep Brain Stimulation in caudal zona incerta. A secondary aim was to correlate diseaseduration with results from SWAL-QOL and the fiber endoscopic evaluation of swallowingfunction. Method Ten male Parkinson’s patients (age 45-69 yrs, median 61.5 yrs) who were selected for DeepBrain Stimulation completing the Swallowing Quality of life form, as well as rating theirswallowing function using a visual analogue scale and undergoing a fiber endoscopicevaluation of their swallowing function.     Results The median total SWAL-QOL score was 94% while the mean was 91%. The median scorefrom the self-assessment was 85% while the mean was 93%. The total SWAL-QOL scorecorrelated with disease duration measured as years since diagnosis (r=-.72, p<.05). Diseaseduration measured as years with symptoms correlated with pre-swallow spillage (r>.63,p<.05).    Conclusions The results showed high levels of swallowing related quality of life for the studied group. Theself-assessment on the visual analogue scale and the fiber endoscopic evaluations alsorevealed that swallowing function was good in this sample. There were significantcorrelations between disease duration and some SWAL-QOL parameters as well as some ofthe outcomes from the fiber endoscopic evaluation.