title: Simple clinical tests may predict severe oropharyngeal dysphagia in Parkinson's disease.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine if simple screening tests can predict severe oropharyngeal dysphagia in subjects with Parkinson's disease.
  
  
  METHODS
  Forty-five subjects (26 females) of average age 75 (range: 65-94) who were classified as Modified Hoehn and Yahr stages 2 to 5 were enrolled. The presence of oropharyngeal dysphagia was assessed by a symptom questionnaire, 50 ml water swallowing test and videofluroscopic swallowing study.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Six of the subjects had severe oropharyngeal dysphagia in videofluroscopic swallowing study. Subsequent multivariate analysis showed that 3 factors could independently predict severe oropharyngeal dysphagia. These included higher Modified Hoehn and Yahr stage (P = 0.042), low Body mass index (P = 0.014), and increased difficulty in keeping food or drink in the mouth (P = 0.047). The regression model had a positive predictive power of 96% (sensitivity: 83.3%, specificity: 97.4%).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  A combination of 3 simple clinical parameters may be useful for screening for severe oropharyngeal dysphagia as shown radiologically in subjects with Parkinson's disease.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine and Geriatrics, Caritas Medical Centre, Hong Kong. lam_kuen@yahoo.com.hk
authors.forename: Kuen
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Lam
authors.forename: Florence Kwai Yi
authors.initials: FK
authors.lastname: Lam
authors.forename: Kwok Kwong
authors.initials: KK
authors.lastname: Lau
authors.forename: Yiu Kay
authors.initials: YK
authors.lastname: Chan
authors.forename: Elaine Yee Ling
authors.initials: EY
authors.lastname: Kan
authors.forename: Jean
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Woo
authors.forename: Fat Kee
authors.initials: FK
authors.lastname: Wong
authors.forename: Andrew
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ko
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D015992:Body Mass Index; D003680:Deglutition Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis*; D005260:Female; D006723:Hong Kong; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008403:Mass Screening; D009460:Neurologic Examination; D010300:Parkinson Disease / Q000175:diagnosis*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors