title: The effect of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease on laryngopharyngeal sensitivity.
abstract: Patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) may be at increased risk of aspiration secondary to impaired swallow function. One possible cause of this impairment is a reduction in laryngopharyngeal sensitivity. The relationship between COPD and laryngopharyngeal sensitivity has not been previously determined. We conducted a study to investigate the effect of COPD on laryngopharyngeal sensitivity by using laryngopharyngeal sensory discrimination testing (LPSDT). Our study population was made up of 20 adults (mean age: 71.7 yr) with clinically proven COPD and 11 healthy, age-matched controls. All 31 subjects underwent LPSDT with the use of an air-pulse stimulator via a nasendoscope. The threshold of laryngopharyngeal sensation was evaluated by measuring the amount of air pressure required to elicit the laryngeal adductor reflex (LAR). We found that the patients with COPD had a significantly higher LAR threshold than did the controls (p< 0.001). We conclude that patients with COPD have significantly less mechanosensitivity in the laryngopharynx. This sensory change may place patients with COPD at increased risk for aspiration.
authors.affiliation: Speech Pathology Department, Concord Repatriation General Hospital, Concord, NSW, Australia. nicola.clayton@sswahs.nsw.gov.au
authors.forename: Nicola A
authors.initials: NA
authors.lastname: Clayton
authors.forename: Giselle D
authors.initials: GD
authors.lastname: Carnaby-Mann
authors.forename: Matthew J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Peters
authors.forename: Alvin J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Ing
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D003680:Deglutition Disorders / Q000209:etiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007013:Hypopharynx / Q000503:physiopathology*; D007828:Laryngoscopy; D007830:Larynx / Q000503:physiopathology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011015:Pneumonia, Aspiration / Q000209:etiology; D029424:Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive / Q000150:complications / Q000503:physiopathology*; D012018:Reflex; D012678:Sensation Disorders / Q000150:complications / Q000503:physiopathology*; D012684:Sensory Thresholds