engleski

Dysphagia awareness in Parkinson's disease - pilot project

PURPOSE: Croatian-Slovenian professional team gathered to scientifically support and promote dysphagia awareness across neurological disorders in the region. Swallowing dysfunction occurs from the earliest stages of Parkinson’s disease (PD), even in asymptomatic cases. Aim of our work is to gather preliminary data about presence of dysphagia in Parkinson's disease within a pilot project that would be a starting point for our future developement. METHODS: Participants were 12 patients, 7 women and 5 men, raging in age from 62 – 82 years, diagnosed with Parkinsons disease in the period of last 10 years, all included in neurological treatement. General and health information were gathered, water test and graham cracker test were applied. The data were statistically analyzed. RESULTS: Water test showed us significant reduction in the bolus volume, high number of intakes (average 7.5 sips per patient), extended time needed for fluid intake. While cracker test showed average of 74 seconds per patient that is significantly expanded compared to 12 sec in healthy individuals. CONCLUSION: Conducting this pilot project presented us with the results that serve us as a ground point for further developement in promoting dysphagia awareness in the region. Dysphagia in PD is associated with increased morbidity and mortality and may place a considerable social and psychological burden upon the individual and their family. Poor results our subjects showed is our starting point in promoting diagnostic and rehabilitation protocols and procedures.

Parkinsons disease ; dysphagia ; rehabilitation ; awareness

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