Article

Dysphagia-related complications, such as aspiration pneumonia and
malnutrition, are major causes of death among patients with Amyotrophic Lateral
Sclerosis (ALS). OBJECTIVE: To analyze clinical features associated with worsened
swallowing and non-oral feeding in ALS. METHODS: This is a long-term study of 33
ALS patients, who were observed between 2006 and 2011 in three month intervals.
These subjects underwent Fiberoptic Endoscopic Evaluation of Swallowing and
Functional Oral Intake Scale classification. Survival analysis was performed
using Cox Regression. RESULTS: The worsening of swallowing functionality was more
rapid in late-onset ALS patients (risk of 4% per year) and individuals with
bulbar onset ALS (risk of 188% per year). Non-oral feeding was associated with
both the later onset of ALS symptoms (risk of 7.5% per year) and shorter disease
duration (risk of 13% per year). CONCLUSION: Worsened swallowing was more rapid
in individuals who were older at symptoms onset and who had bulbar onset ALS.
Non-oral feeding was associated with both age at symptoms onset and shorter disease duration.

Langue : ANGLAIS