title: The Ability of the 10-Item Eating Assessment Tool (EAT-10) to Predict Aspiration Risk in Persons With Dysphagia.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Dysphagia is common and costly. The ability of patient symptoms to predict objective swallowing dysfunction is uncertain.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  This study aimed to evaluate the ability of the Eating Assessment Tool (EAT-10) to screen for aspiration risk in patients with dysphagia.
  
  
  METHODS
  Data from individuals with dysphagia undergoing a videofluoroscopic swallow study between January 2012 and July 2013 were abstracted from a clinical database. Data included the EAT-10, Penetration Aspiration Scale (PAS), total pharyngeal transit (TPT) time, and underlying diagnoses. Bivariate linear correlation analysis, sensitivity, specificity, and predictive values were calculated.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The mean age of the entire cohort (N=360) was 64.40 (±14.75) years. Forty-six percent were female. The mean EAT-10 was 16.08 (±10.25) for nonaspirators and 23.16 (±10.88) for aspirators (P<.0001). There was a linear correlation between the total EAT-10 score and the PAS (r=0.273, P<.001). Sensitivity and specificity of an EAT-10>15 in predicting aspiration were 71% and 53%, respectively.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Subjective dysphagia symptoms as documented with the EAT-10 can predict aspiration risk. A linear correlation exists between the EAT-10 and aspiration events (PAS) and aspiration risk (TPT time). Persons with an EAT-10>15 are 2.2 times more likely to aspirate (95% confidence interval, 1.3907-3.6245). The sensitivity of an EAT-10>15 is 71%.
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology-Head & Neck Surgery, University of California, Davis, Sacramento, California, USA.
authors.forename: Diane M
authors.initials: DM
authors.lastname: Cheney
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology-Head & Neck Surgery, University of California, Davis, Sacramento, California, USA.
authors.forename: M Tausif
authors.initials: MT
authors.lastname: Siddiqui
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology, University of Colorado, Denver, Colorado, USA.
authors.forename: Juliana K
authors.initials: JK
authors.lastname: Litts
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology-Head & Neck Surgery, University of California, Davis, Sacramento, California, USA.
authors.forename: Maggie A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Kuhn
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology-Head & Neck Surgery, University of California, Davis, Sacramento, California, USA pbelafsky@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Peter C
authors.initials: PC
authors.lastname: Belafsky
mesh_terms: D002140:California / Q000453:epidemiology; D003679:Deglutition / Q000502:physiology*; D003680:Deglutition Disorders / Q000150:complications* / Q000453:epidemiology; D004435:Eating; D005260:Female; D005471:Fluoroscopy; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D053120:Respiratory Aspiration / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D018570:Risk Assessment / Q000379:methods*
keywords: EAT-10; Eating Assessment Tool; PAS; Penetration Aspiration Scale; aspiration; aspiration risk; dysphagia; screening test; survey; symptom