| Dysphagia Derived from the Greek word phagein, meaning “to eat.” Occurs when there is a problem with any part of the swallowing process – from the mouth to the stomach. Affects as many as 15 million Americans with approximately 1 million new cases diagnosed annually. Will develop in 1 in 17 people at some point in their life, including: –50% to 75% of stroke patients
–60% to 70% of patients who undergo radiation therapy for head and neck cancer –Up to 90% of Parkinson’s and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) patients Other causes include traumatic head or spinal cord injuries, meningitis, multiple sclerosis, cerebral palsy, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, burns and tracheotomies. |
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Especially prevalent among the elderly, with studies suggesting that as many as 75 percent of nursing home residents have some degree of dysphagia and as many as half of all Americans over 60 will experience the disorder at some point.
Leads to more than 60,000 deaths annually in the U.S. – more than the total from liver disease, kidney disease and AIDS combined.
Complications include choking, bronchospasm, increased infection rate, chronic malnutrition, life-threatening dehydration, significant weight loss, physical debilitation, social isolation and even death.
Increases healthcare costs through hospital readmissions, emergency room visits, extended hospital stays, long-term institutional care and expensive nutrition and respiratory support.
Severe cases may require a feeding tube, which dramatically affects a patient’s quality of life and costs as much as $31,000 per patient per year.
Costs national healthcare system more than $1 billion annually.