Screening for Sarcopenic Dysphagia and the Implementation of Measures to Prevent Its Complications in Geriatric Patients [DYSPHAGING-PILOT]

Civil Hospices of Lyon

Status: Enrolling

Conditions: Sarcopanic Dysphagia; Swallowing Disorder

Treatments: Procedure: Protective measures for the upper airways; Other: EAT-10 (Eating assessment Tool) screening questionnaire

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT05734586

69HCL22_0474

Details and patient eligibility

About

Sarcopenic dysphagia is described as a swallowing disorder caused by a loss of muscle mass and strength, sarcopenia. It induces chronic complications like micro-inhalations and the worsening of chronic undernutrition, according to a vicious circle. Awareness of the high prevalence of sarcopenic dysphagia and its serious consequences among elderly people with disabilities and hospitalized patients is recent, which explains the low rate of screening in the population concerned. In this context, methods of prevention, evaluation and intervention of sarcopenic dysphagia adapted to the most exposed population are needed.

Two European learned societies have developed recommendations that include increased awareness of swallowing disorders, the use of screening scores, preventive measures, diagnostic standardization, and implemented interventions (rehabilitation, textural adaptation, etc.). In order to respect these recommendations, a pedagogical sheet, entitled DYSPHAGING was elaborated within our unit in a multiprofessional way in 4 steps (1 - Screen; 2 - Protect; 3 - Confirm; 4 - Rehabilitate).

This feasibility study aims to evaluate the rate of completion and the conditions for implementing steps 1 and 2 in hospital and institutional care units.

Full description

Sarcopenic dysphagia is described as a swallowing disorder caused by a loss of muscle mass and strength, sarcopenia. It induces chronic complications like micro-inhalations and the worsening of chronic undernutrition, according to a vicious circle. Awareness of the high prevalence of sarcopenic dysphagia and its serious consequences among elderly people with disabilities and hospitalized patients is recent, which explains the low rate of screening in the population concerned. In this context, methods of prevention, evaluation and intervention of sarcopenic dysphagia adapted to the most exposed population are needed.

Two European learned societies have developed recommendations that include increased awareness of swallowing disorders, the use of screening scores, preventive measures, diagnostic standardization, and implemented interventions (rehabilitation, textural adaptation, etc.). In order to respect these recommendations, a pedagogical sheet, entitled DYSPHAGING was elaborated within our unit in a multiprofessional way in 4 steps (1 - Screen; 2 - Protect; 3 - Confirm; 4 - Rehabilitate).

This feasibility study aims to evaluate the rate of completion and the conditions for implementing steps 1 and 2 in hospital and institutional care units.

Enrollment: 102 estimated patients

Sex: All

Ages: 70+ years old

Volunteers: No Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

• Patient aged ≥ 70 years,
• Patient affiliated to a social security system,
• Patient hospitalized in the health sector or in a medico-social institute,
• Patient informed of the study (information leaflet provided) and having orally signified their consent to inclusion in the study.
• Patient under legal protection, guardianship or curatorship,

Exclusion criteria

• Patient unable to feed orally,
• Patient with an active pathology responsible for acute swallowing disorders (< 3 months) (neurodegenerative pathology with predominant motor impairment such as Charcot's disease, stroke, ENT disease).
• Patient unable to answer the questionnaire.

Trial design

Primary purpose: Other

Allocation: N/A

Interventional model: Single Group Assignment

Masking: None (Open label)

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102 participants in 1 patient group

DYSPHAGING Interventional group

Other group

Description:

* Step 1: delivery of the EAT-10 questionnaire for swallowing disorders screening; * Step 2: in case of EAT≥2 score, immediate implementation of upper airway protection measures in 3 areas: 1: Postural adjustments; 2 : Hygienic and dietary rules ; 3: Food textures The hypothesis is that allied health professionals in acute geriatric wards, rehabilitation units, and Long Term Care Units are able to implement the current recommendations for screening for sarcopenic dysphagia and to implement preventive measures but in a systematic way. Patient characteristics will be collected at each site at the end of the study by a clinical research assistant based on their medical records. At the end of the study, each allied health professionals who has been involved in the care of at least one patient will fill out a satisfaction questionnaire.

Treatment:

Procedure: Protective measures for the upper airways

Other: EAT-10 (Eating assessment Tool) screening questionnaire