title: A visual analogue scale and a Likert scale are simple and responsive tools for assessing dysphagia in eosinophilic oesophagitis.
abstract: While symptom scores have been developed to evaluate dysphagia in eosinophilic oesophagitis (EoE), their complexity may limit clinical use.
  
  
  
  To evaluate a visual analogue scale (VAS) and a 10-point Likert scale (LS) for assessment of dysphagia severity before and after EoE treatment.
  
  
  
  We conducted a prospective cohort study enrolling consecutive adults undergoing out-patient endoscopy. Incident cases of EoE were diagnosed per consensus guidelines. At diagnosis and after 8 weeks of treatment, symptoms were measured using the VAS, LS and the Mayo Dysphagia Questionnaire (MDQ). The percentage change in scores before and after treatment were compared overall, in treatment responders (<15 eos/hpf) and non-responders, and in patients without baseline dilation.
  
  
  
  In 51 EoE cases, the median VAS decreased from 3.6 at baseline to 1.4 post-treatment (71% decrease), the LS decreased from 6 to 2 (67%) and the MDQ decreased from 20 to 10 (49%). The VAS correlated with both the LS (R = 0.77; P < 0.0001) and MDQ (R = 0.46, P = 0.001). After stratification by histological response, the LS decreased 70% in responders vs. 13% in non-responders (P = 0.02). In patients who did not receive baseline dilation, both the VAS and LS decreased significantly more in the histological responders.
  
  
  
  Both the VAS and LS were responsive to successful treatment as measured by histologic improvement. Because the VAS and LS are simple to administer and are responsive to treatment, they can provide an efficient and objective method for assessing dysphagia severity in EoE in clinical practice.
authors.affiliation: Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Department of Medicine, Center for Esophageal Diseases and Swallowing, Center for Gastrointestinal Biology and Disease, University of North Carolina School of Medicine, Chapel Hill, NC, USA.
authors.forename: C C
authors.initials: CC
authors.lastname: Reed
authors.affiliation: Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Department of Medicine, Center for Esophageal Diseases and Swallowing, Center for Gastrointestinal Biology and Disease, University of North Carolina School of Medicine, Chapel Hill, NC, USA.
authors.forename: W A
authors.initials: WA
authors.lastname: Wolf
authors.affiliation: Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Department of Medicine, Center for Esophageal Diseases and Swallowing, Center for Gastrointestinal Biology and Disease, University of North Carolina School of Medicine, Chapel Hill, NC, USA.
authors.forename: C C
authors.initials: CC
authors.lastname: Cotton
authors.affiliation: Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Department of Medicine, Center for Esophageal Diseases and Swallowing, Center for Gastrointestinal Biology and Disease, University of North Carolina School of Medicine, Chapel Hill, NC, USA.
authors.forename: E S
authors.identifier: 0000-0003-1167-1101
authors.initials: ES
authors.lastname: Dellon
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D003680:Deglutition Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology; D004724:Endoscopy / Q000379:methods*; D057765:Eosinophilic Esophagitis / Q000188:drug therapy*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010045:Outpatients; D010147:Pain Measurement; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D064232:Visual Analog Scale