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

Lisa Tuomi

Status: Enrolling

Conditions: Dysphagia; Intervention; Ageing

Treatments: Behavioral: Muscular strengthening training; Behavioral: Skill-based training

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT06599021

2024-00262-01

Details and patient eligibility

About

Participants included in SCAPIS2 (Swedish Cardio Pulmonary bioimage study) are screened regarding swallowing difficulty using a timed water swallow test. Participants who show signs of swallowing difficulty (dysphagia) are included in the present study, which encompasses s flexible endoscopic evaluation of swallowing function (FEES). Participants showing a moderate-severe dysphagia are randomized into one of three intervention groups: muscle strengthening training, skill-based swallowing training and a control group who will receive compensatory treatment. The study is expected to improve diagnostics and treatment of swallowing difficulties in an ageing population.

Enrollment: 99 estimated patients

Sex: All

Ages: 18+ years old

Volunteers: Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

• Participation in SCAPIS2
• Swallowing dysfunction according to timed water swallow test or
• Swallowing dysfunction according to self-report

Exclusion criteria

• Severely impaired intellectual abilities.
• Inability to consent to inclusion in the study.
• Inability to answer written questionnaires in Swedish

Inclusion of non-dysphagia control cohort: No signs of aspiration, slow swallowing (<10 ml/sec) or self-rated difficulties with eating and swallowing in sub-study SCAPIS2

Trial design

Primary purpose: Treatment

Allocation: Randomized

Interventional model: Parallel Assignment

Masking: None (Open label)

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99 participants in 3 patient groups

Muscular strengthening training

Experimental group

Description:

The muscular strengthening training is permformed 3 times daily as "head-ups" where the participant lies down and lifts their head anf then holds it upright during 60 seconds. This is repeated x 3 followed by 30 head-lifts. The duration of the training programme is 6 weeks.

Treatment:

Behavioral: Muscular strengthening training

Skill-based training

Experimental group

Description:

During the skill-based training programme, food and beverages are used as swallowing training material based on a pre-determined food-hierarchy. The training starts at the highest level that the participant can safely swallow and then progresses as strength and coordination of swallowing improves. This training is comprised of 15 speech- and language pathologist lead training sessions during 3 weeks.

Treatment:

Behavioral: Skill-based training

Compensatory treatment

No Intervention group

Description:

The control group will receive information about dysphagia and advise on compensatory strategies.