Relationship between orofacial mobility and severity of pharyngeal residues in oropharyngeal dysphagia in individuals with Parkinson’s disease

ABSTRACT

Purpose  To relate the findings of the speech therapy assessment, based on tongue and lip mobility and the severity of pharyngeal residues, and compare them with the results of the instrumental assessment in patients with Parkinson's disease.

Methods  This was a cross-sectional, retrospective study based on data collected from medical records. Data were collected from 42 dysphagic individuals with Parkinson's disease, including the speech therapy assessment of tongue and lip mobility, oral status, spontaneous cough, and the pharyngeal signs observed in the fiberoptic endoscopic evaluation of swallowing in four food consistencies, classified according to the International Dysphagia Diet Standardization Initiative (IDDSI). The severity of pharyngeal residues after swallowing was assessed using the Yale Pharyngeal Residue Severity Rating Scale (YPRSRS). A simple linear regression model was used to analyze the data, with a significance level of 5%.

Results  There was a significant relationship between reduced tongue and lip mobility and pharyngeal residue severity (p = 0.002). The coefficient of determination indicated that reduced tongue and lip mobility accounted for 21% and 20%, respectively, of the severity of pharyngeal residues in the sample. In addition, there was no difference in signs of dysphagia when comparing individuals with reduced orofacial mobility and those with adequate mobility.

Conclusion  The regression model indicated that there was a significant relationship between reduced tongue and lip mobility and the severity of pharyngeal residue after swallowing in patients with Parkinson's disease.

Keywords:
Parkinson’s disease; Swallowing disorders; Dysphagia; Aspiration pneumonia; Speech-language pathology