PT - JOURNAL ARTICLE AU - Margareta Gonzalez Lindh AU - Andrei Malinovschi AU - Eva Brandén AU - Christer Janson AU - Björn Ställberg AU - Kristina Bröms AU - Monica Blom Johansson AU - Karin Lisspers AU - Hirsh Koyi TI - Subjective swallowing symptoms and related risk factors in COPD AID - 10.1183/23120541.00081-2019 DP - 2019 Jul 01 TA - ERJ Open Research PG - 00081-2019 VI - 5 IP - 3 4099 - http://openres.ersjournals.com/content/5/3/00081-2019.short 4100 - http://openres.ersjournals.com/content/5/3/00081-2019.full SO - erjor2019 Jul 01; 5 AB - 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.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