DYSPHAGIA OCCURRENCE IN COVID-19-POSITIVE PATIENTS IN TWO HOSPITALS IN BRAZIL.

BACKGROUND: COVID-19 comprises a respiratory infection resulting from contamination by SARS-CoV-2, with acute respiratory failure being one of its main characteristics, leading to a high frequency of orotracheal intubation (OTI), which in turn increases the risk for dysphagia. Since this can lead to pulmonary impairment, knowing the real occurrence of dysphagia in part of the Brazilian population and its associations allows early and effective clinical management of the multidisciplinary team in relation to patients. OBJECTIVE: To verify the occurrence of dysphagia in COVID-19-positive adult patients in two Brazilian reference hospitals in the care of the pandemic. METHODS: This was a prospective, longitudinal observational study carried out in two private hospitals in Brazil, both references in the care of patients with coronavirus isolation. Data were initially collected by consulting the medical records of each patient. Information was collected regarding sex, age, previous diseases, COVID-19 testing, and the OTI period. After data collection, the clinical speech-language assessment of swallowing for each patient was carried out using the adapted Gugging Swallowing Screen (GUSS), the ASHA NOMS and the Functional Oral Intake Scale (FOIS). RESULTS: A total of 129 participants were evaluated, with a mean age of 72 years. According to the GUSS scale, 9.3% of the patients presented normal/functional swallowing, while 90.7% presented dysphagia, with mild dysphagia in 17.05%, moderate dysphagia in 33.33%, and severe dysphagia in 37.98%. As for the results of the ASHA NOMS, the majority (36.5%) of the patients were at level 1, which represents the patient who is not able to receive his or her food supply orally, having the need to use tube feedings. This is in line with the results observed with the FOIS scale, whereby most patients (42.1%) were classified as Level I, when food intake occurs exclusively through feeding tubes, with no oral supply. Of the 129 participants, 59% of them required OTI. When comparing the time of OTI and the severity of dysphagia, there was a statistically significant difference, with more severe dysphagia, the longer the patient remained intubated. CONCLUSION: There is a high incidence of oropharyngeal dysphagia in patients with COVID-19, with increased severity during longer periods of OTI.

Ocorrência de disfagia em pacientes COVID-19 positivo em dois hospitais do Brasil / Dysphagia occurrence in covid-19-positive patients in two hospitals in brazil

ABSTRACT Background COVID-19 comprises a respiratory infection resulting from contamination by SARS-CoV-2, with acute respiratory failure being one of its main characteristics, leading to a high frequency of orotracheal intubation (OTI), which in turn increases the risk for dysphagia. Since this can lead to pulmonary impairment, knowing the real occurrence of dysphagia in part of the Brazilian population and its associations allows early and effective clinical management of the multidisciplinary team in relation to patients. Objective To verify the occurrence of dysphagia in COVID-19-positive adult patients in two Brazilian reference hospitals in the care of the pandemic. Methods This was a prospective, longitudinal observational study carried out in two private hospitals in Brazil, both references in the care of patients with coronavirus isolation. Data were initially collected by consulting the medical records of each patient. Information was collected regarding sex, age, previous diseases, COVID-19 testing, and the OTI period. After data collection, the clinical speech-language assessment of swallowing for each patient was carried out using the adapted Gugging Swallowing Screen (GUSS), the ASHA NOMS and the Functional Oral Intake Scale (FOIS). Results A total of 129 participants were evaluated, with a mean age of 72 years. According to the GUSS scale, 9.3% of the patients presented normal/functional swallowing, while 90.7% presented dysphagia, with mild dysphagia in 17.05%, moderate dysphagia in 33.33%, and severe dysphagia in 37.98%. As for the results of the ASHA NOMS, the majority (36.5%) of the patients were at level 1, which represents the patient who is not able to receive his or her food supply orally, having the need to use tube feedings. This is in line with the results observed with the FOIS scale, whereby most patients (42.1%) were classified as Level I, when food intake occurs exclusively through feeding tubes, with no oral supply. Of the 129 participants, 59% of them required OTI. When comparing the time of OTI and the severity of dysphagia, there was a statistically significant difference, with more severe dysphagia, the longer the patient remained intubated. Conclusion: There is a high incidence of oropharyngeal dysphagia in patients with COVID-19, with increased severity during longer periods of OTI.

RESUMO Contexto A COVID-19 compreende uma infecção respiratória decorrente da contaminação pelo vírus SARS-CoV-2, sendo a insuficiência respiratória aguda uma de suas principais características, levando a uma alta frequência de intubação orotraqueal (IOT), que por sua vez aumenta o risco para a disfagia. Uma vez que esta pode levar ao comprometimento pulmonar, conhecer a real ocorrência de disfagia em parte da população brasileira e suas associações permite o manejo clínico precoce e eficaz da equipe multidisciplinar em relação aos pacientes. Objetivo: Verificar a ocorrência de disfagia em pacientes adultos positivos para COVID-19 em dois hospitais brasileiros, referências no atendimento à pandemia. Métodos: Trata-se de um estudo prospectivo, observacional longitudinal, realizado em dois hospitais privados no Brasil, ambos referências no atendimento de pacientes com isolamento por coronavírus. Inicialmente os dados foram levantados por meio de consulta aos prontuários de cada paciente. Foram também coletadas informações sobre sexo, idade, doenças anteriores, teste de COVID-19 e período de IOT. Após a coleta de dados, foi realizada a avaliação fonoaudiológica clínica da deglutição de cada paciente por meio do Gugging Swallowing Screen (GUSS) adaptado, do ASHA NOMS e da Functional Oral Intake Scale (FOIS). Resultados Foram avaliados 129 participantes, com média de idade de 72 anos. De acordo com a escala GUSS, 9,3% dos pacientes apresentaram deglutição normal/funcional, enquanto 90,7% apresentaram disfagia, sendo esta de grau leve em 17,05%, moderado em 33,33% e grave em 37,98%. Quanto aos resultados do ASHA NOMS, a maioria (36,5%) dos pacientes encontrava-se no nível 1, que representa o paciente que não consegue receber alimentação por via oral, tendo a necessidade do uso de alimentação por sonda. Esse dado está de acordo com os resultados observados com a escala FOIS, em que a maioria dos pacientes (42,1%) foi classificada como nível I, quando a ingestão de alimentos ocorre exclusivamente por sondas, sem oferta por via oral. Dos 129 participantes, 59% deles necessitaram de IOT. Ao comparar o tempo de IOT e a gravidade da disfagia, encontrou-se diferença estatisticamente significante, sendo que quanto mais grave a disfagia, maior o tempo que o paciente permaneceu intubado. Conclusão Existe alta incidência de disfagia orofaríngea em pacientes com COVID-19, com maior gravidade durante períodos mais longos de IOT.

Desempenho da alimentação oral em recém-nascidos prematuros estimulados pela técnica treino de deglutição / Oral feeding performance in premature infants stimulated by swallowing technical training

RESUMO Introdução A prematuridade pode afetar o desenvolvimento adequado do recém-nascido. Objetivo Avaliar o desempenho para a alimentação via oral em recém-nascidos prematuros, estimulados pela técnica treino de deglutição. Métodos A pesquisa ocorreu em uma unidade de terapia intensiva neonatal, no período de março a agosto de 2015. Trata-se de um estudo Quase Experimento de Série Temporal com 14 recém-nascidos pré-termo (RNPT), com idade gestacional corrigida entre 30-36 semanas. Foi aplicado o protocolo de avaliação da prontidão do prematuro para início da alimentação oral (pré e pós-treino de deglutição). O treino de deglutição ocorreu uma vez ao dia e, em média, durante seis dias consecutivos. Resultados Verificou-se melhora pós-estimulação, comparando-se os dados do protocolo pré-intervenção e pós-intervenção. Quanto aos níveis de habilidades de alimentação por via oral, 50% dos prematuros foram classificados como nível 4. A alimentação via oral foi iniciada, em média, 1 dia após o término do treino de deglutição; a sonda alimentar foi retirada em, aproximadamente, 7 dias após o início da via oral. Houve associação inversa limítrofe entre melhora no escore de prontidão e tempo de transição da via alternativa para a via oral total e associação inversa entre melhora no escore de prontidão e idade gestacional corrigida. Conclusão A intervenção com treino de deglutição possibilitou melhora na habilidade de alimentação em 50% da amostra, com início da alimentação via oral e obtenção da alimentação exclusiva via oral em um curto período de tempo, com prontidão para via oral em idades gestacionais precoces.

ABSTRACT Introduction Prematurity can affect proper development of a newborn. Purpose To evaluate performance of oral feeding in preterm infants stimulated by the swallowing training technique. Methods The study was conducted in a neonatal intensive care unit from March to August 2015. The study was developed as a Times Series Quasi Experiment with 14 preterm newborns (PTNB) with corrected gestational age between 30-36 weeks. The readiness to feed orally protocol for preterm infants (pre and post-swallowing training) was applied. Swallowing exercises were conducted once a day and on average for six consecutive days. Results Improvement post-stimulation was observed, comparing the pre-intervention and post-intervention protocol data. Regarding oral feeding skills, 50% of preterm infants were classified as level 4. Oral feeding commenced, on average, 1 day after the end of swallowing training; the gastric tube was removed approximately 7 days after beginning oral feeding. There was a borderline inverse relationship between improvement in the readiness score and transition time from tube to full oral feeding and an inverse relationship between improvement in the readiness score and corrected gestational age. Conclusion The intervention with swallowing training made it possible to improve feeding skills in 50% of the sample population, starting oral feeding and obtaining exclusive oral feeding in a short period of time, with oral readiness at early gestational ages.

Association between neurological injury and the severity of oropharyngeal dysphagia after stroke.

PURPOSE: To associate the degree of biomechanical impairment in the swallowing process with the severity (National Institute of Health Stroke Scale - NIHSS) and type of neurological injury in patients post stroke. METHODS: A cross-sectional, descriptive study conducted with 42 patients (22 females), aged 65.7 years on average diagnosed with stroke. All patients underwent clinical neurological evaluation and application of the NIHSS in the first 48 hours after stroke. The swallowing function was evaluated using the Functional Oral Intake Scale (FOIS) and the Protocol for the Investigation of Oropharyngeal Dysphagia in Adults. The Fisher's Exact Probability Test was used to assess the correlation between the degree of swallowing impairment and the severity (NIHSS score) and type of stroke. The study results were statistically analyzed at 5% significance level (p≤0.05). RESULTS: 92.9% of the patients presented ischemic stroke; 59.5% presented impairment of the anterior cerebral circulation. Statistically significant correlation was found between the neurological scale (NIHSS) scores and the swallowing impairment scale (p=0.016). CONCLUSION: An association between stroke severity and oropharyngeal dysphagia severity was observed. A high proportion of patients with ischemic stroke with circulation affected in the anterior cerebral region presented severe oropharyngeal dysphagia. No statistically significant correlation was observed between the FOIS scale and stroke severity.

Association between neurological injury and the severity of oropharyngeal dysphagia after stroke

ABSTRACT Purpose To associate the degree of biomechanical impairment in the swallowing process with the severity (National Institute of Health Stroke Scale – NIHSS) and type of neurological injury in patients post stroke. Methods A cross-sectional, descriptive study conducted with 42 patients (22 females), aged 65.7 years on average diagnosed with stroke. All patients underwent clinical neurological evaluation and application of the NIHSS in the first 48 hours after stroke. The swallowing function was evaluated using the Functional Oral Intake Scale (FOIS) and the Protocol for the Investigation of Oropharyngeal Dysphagia in Adults. The Fisher’s Exact Probability Test was used to assess the correlation between the degree of swallowing impairment and the severity (NIHSS score) and type of stroke. The study results were statistically analyzed at 5% significance level (p≤0.05). Results 92.9% of the patients presented ischemic stroke; 59.5% presented impairment of the anterior cerebral circulation. Statistically significant correlation was found between the neurological scale (NIHSS) scores and the swallowing impairment scale (p=0.016). Conclusion An association between stroke severity and oropharyngeal dysphagia severity was observed. A high proportion of patients with ischemic stroke with circulation affected in the anterior cerebral region presented severe oropharyngeal dysphagia. No statistically significant correlation was observed between the FOIS scale and stroke severity.