Abstract
Objectives This study aimed to investigate the prevalence of subjective (i.e. self-reported) swallowing symptoms in a large cohort of patients with stable chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and to identify potential related risk factors.
Methods A total of 571 patients with COPD, investigated in a stable phase, participated in this multicentre study (335 females, 236 males; mean age: 68.6 years (sd 7.7)). Data were derived from spirometry, a questionnaire and a 30-metre walking test.
Results In total, 33% (n=186) patients reported at least some degree of swallowing problem. The most frequently reported symptom was food lodging in the throat (23%). A significant relationship was found between swallowing symptoms and dyspnoea, assessed as modified Medical Research Council (mMRC) ≥2 compared with <2 (46% versus 22%; p<0.001) and health-related quality of life, assessed as the COPD Assessment Test (CAT) ≥10 (40% versus 19%; p<0.001). Swallowing problems were also related to lower physical capacity (p=0.02) but not to lung function (p>0.28).
Conclusion Subjective swallowing symptoms seem to be a common problem in patients with stable COPD. This problem is seen in all stages of the disease, but is more common in symptomatic patients and in patients with lower physical capacity.
Abstract
Patients with #COPD can experience problems swallowing food and liquid efficiently and safely, according to new research from Margareta Gonzalez Lindh and colleagues at @UU_University http://bit.ly/2Kmxyqx
Footnotes
Conflict of interest: M. Gonzalez Lindh has nothing to disclose.
Conflict of interest: A. Malinovschi has nothing to disclose.
Conflict of interest: E. Brandén has nothing to disclose.
Conflict of interest: C. Janson has nothing to disclose.
Conflict of interest: B. Ställberg reports personal fees for advisory board meetings, educational activities and lectures from AstraZeneca, Novartis, Boehringer Ingelheim and Meda, for advisory board meetings from GlaxoSmithKline, and for educational activities and lectures from Teva, outside the submitted work.
Conflict of interest: K. Bröms has nothing to disclose.
Conflict of interest: M. Blom Johansson has nothing to disclose.
Conflict of interest: K. Lisspers reports payment for educational activities and lectures from AstraZeneca, Novartis, TEVA, Boehringer Ingelheim and Chiesi and payments for participating on advisory boards for Boehringer Ingelheim and GlaxoSmithKline, outside the submitted work.
Conflict of interest: H. Koyi has nothing to disclose.
Support statement: This study was funded by the Uppsala-Örebro Regional Research Council; Centre for Research and Development, Uppsala University/Region Gävleborg; Centre for Clinical Research, Uppsala University; County Council Dalarna; The Swedish Heart-Lung Foundation; The Swedish Heart and Lung Association; and The Uppsala County Association against Heart and Lung Diseases. Funding information for this article has been deposited with the Crossref Funder Registry.
- Received March 29, 2019.
- Accepted July 29, 2019.
- Copyright ©ERS 2019
This article is open access and distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution Non-Commercial Licence 4.0.