title: Characteristics of dysphagia in older patients evaluated at a tertiary center.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine laryngoscopic and videofluoroscopic swallowing study (VFSS) findings in geriatric patients with dysphagia; to evaluate management.
  
  
  METHODS
  Retrospective chart review.
  
  
  METHODS
  Patients over 65 years old complaining of dysphagia, seen at a tertiary laryngology clinic, were included. Head and neck cancer and stroke patients were excluded. Demographics, laryngoscopic findings, swallowing studies, and treatment modalities were reviewed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Sixty-five patients were included. Mean age was 75 years old (range = 66-97) with female predominance of 67.6%. Weight loss was seen in 9.2% of the patients. Whereas 52.3% of the patients complained of solid food dysphagia, 53.8% were choking on food. On laryngoscopy, 15.3% of the patients had pooling in the pyriform sinuses, 30.7% had glottic gap, 18.4% had vocal fold immobility, and 3% had hypomobility. VFSS showed that 38.4% of the patients had pharyngoesophageal dysphagia, 20% had oropharyngeal dysphagia, 20% had pharyngeal dysphagia, and 20% had a normal study. In addition, 41.5% of the patients showed laryngeal penetration and 18.4% showed aspiration. Surgical intervention was employed in 29.2% of the patients in the form of botulinum toxin injection, esophageal dilatation, cricopharyngeal myotomy, vocal fold injection, diverticulectomy, and percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy. Whereas 21.5% of the patients received swallowing therapy, 61.5% underwent diet modification. As a result, 80% of the patients needed some type of treatment.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Swallowing problems in older patients are not uncommon. The clinician needs to be diligent to inquire about dysphagia because a large number of these patients will require treatment.
  
  
  METHODS
  4.
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, Arkansas, U.S.A.
authors.forename: Pelin
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Kocdor
authors.forename: Eric R
authors.initials: ER
authors.lastname: Siegel
authors.forename: Rachel
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Giese
authors.forename: Ozlem E
authors.initials: OE
authors.lastname: Tulunay-Ugur
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001131:Arkansas / Q000453:epidemiology; D003680:Deglutition Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D005260:Female; D005471:Fluoroscopy; D006801:Humans; D007828:Laryngoscopy; D008297:Male; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D014741:Video Recording
keywords: Dysphagia; geriatric; laryngoscopy; swallowing therapy; treatment; videofluoroscopic swallowing study