title: Quality of life in swallowing in healthy elderly.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To understand the self-perception of healthy elderly regarding possible swallowing difficulties.
  
  
  METHODS
  Participants were 104 seniors, 62 women and 42 men, ranging in age from 60 to 88 years (mean 70.6), who reported good general health, no history of degenerative diseases, neurological or any other diseases that could influence swallowing participated. All subjects underwent cognitive and emotional screening and presented satisfactory conditions for both. A questionnaire to gather general and health information, and the protocol SWAL-QOL were applied. The data were statistically analyzed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Most domains of the SWAL-QOL showed mean numbers close to the maximum score (100 points), indicating a positive perception of the elderly about quality of life related to swallowing. Individuals with dentures showed better rates in most domains when compared to non-users. Individuals who self-reported ill-fitting dentures had lower scores for the domains "burden", "eating duration" and "frequency of symptoms". Men and women differed only in the domains "sleep" and "fatigue", for which women had lower mean scores. There was no correlation between the SWAL-QOL scores obtained and the variables age and monthly income.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Healthy elderly, in general, do not self-report significant changes in the quality of life related to swallowing. Moreover, there is no reduction of quality of life related to swallowing as age advances. Well-adjusted dentures minimize impairment related to swallowing.
authors.affiliation: Universidade Estadual do Centro-Oeste, Iratim, PR, Brasil.
authors.forename: Karlla
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Cassol
authors.forename: Juliana Ferreira Marcolino
authors.initials: JF
authors.lastname: Galli
authors.forename: Nelma Ellen
authors.initials: NE
authors.lastname: Zamberlan
authors.forename: Ana Paula
authors.initials: AP
authors.lastname: Dassie-Leite
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003679:Deglutition / Q000502:physiology*; D003680:Deglutition Disorders / Q000523:psychology; D017266:Dental Prosthesis / Q000523:psychology; D059026:Diagnostic Self Evaluation; D005260:Female; D006299:Health Services for the Aged; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011788:Quality of Life; D012737:Sex Factors; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires