title: [Investigation of swallowing function in the elderly].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the swallowing function and the incidence of swallowing dysfunction in the elderly, and study the effect of age on swallowing function.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 1040 (age > or = 55 years) elderly-to-be and elderly who undertaken the health examination in health examination center of our hospital from March 16, 2012 to April 9, 2012 were included in this study. The incidence of swallowing dysfunction in the elderly and the effect of age on swallowing function were evaluated. The subjects with stroke, esophageal cancer, parkinson's disease, deglutition syncope, esophageal spasm, thyrohyoid cyst and so on were defined as basic disease group, the other as normal group. The incidence of swallowing dysfunction was compared between the two groups.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The incidences of swallowing dysfunction in basic disease group and normal group were 74.4% (29/39) and 5.5% (55/1001), and there was a significant difference between the two groups (P < 0.001). The swallowing dysfunction rates of elderly-to-be and elderly in normal group were 2.9% (9/311) and 6.7/% (46/690) and the difference between the two groups was significant (P < 0.05). With the growth of age, the swallowing dysfunction rate in different age group increased, and the number of rapid swallow in 30 s decreased gradually (P < 0. 001).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Stroke, esophageal cancer, Parkinson's disease and so on are the main causes of swallowing dysfunction in elderly. The swallowing dysfunction rate is 6.7% in the normal elderly. With the growth of age, the incidence of swallowing dysfunction is increased and the swallowing speed is decreased.
authors: Department of Otorhinolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Navy General Hospital, Beijing, 100048, China.
authors: Jie
authors: J
authors: Zhang
authors: Jinrang
authors: J
authors: Li
mesh_terms: D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D003679:Deglutition / Q000502:physiology; D003680:Deglutition Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010300:Parkinson Disease / Q000503:physiopathology; D020521:Stroke / Q000503:physiopathology