Study on Swallowing Difficulties in People Over 60 Years Assessing Prevalence, Severity, and Treatments Including Muscle Strengthening and Skill-Based Training

What this Trial Is About

Researchers are studying swallowing difficulties dysphagia in people over 60 years old to better understand how common these problems are, how severe they can be, and how different treatments might help. This study includes participants from the Swedish Cardio Pulmonary bioimage study SCAPIS2 who show signs of swallowing difficulty. The goal is to improve how swallowing problems are diagnosed and treated in an aging population. Participants with moderate to severe dysphagia are randomly assigned to one of three groups one group does muscle strengthening exercises involving head-ups performed three times daily for six weeks another group receives skill-based swallowing training led by a speech and language pathologist over 15 sessions in three weeks, using different foods and drinks to improve swallowing coordination and a control group receives information and advice on compensatory strategies for swallowing difficulties. During the study, researchers assess swallowing function using a flexible endoscopic evaluation, focusing mainly on the penetration-aspiration score before and after the six-week intervention. Secondary outcomes include symptoms related to dysphagia, tongue strength, body composition, costs of intervention, self-perceived swallowing ability, and quality of life measures up to 12 months after intervention. Participants complete questionnaires and undergo various assessments to monitor swallowing efficiency and safety throughout the study period.

Swallowing Difficulties in People Over 60 Years: Prevalence, Degree of Difficulty and Intervention