Dysarthria as a predictor of dysphagia following stroke.

BACKGROUND

Stroke is the leading cause of mortality and disability worldwide. Important sequels are frequent, including dysphagia and communication disorders.

OBJECTIVE

to determine the prevalence of dysphagia and communication disorders following stroke, and to identify if communication disorders can predict dysphagia.

METHODS

Thirty-one prospective and consecutive patients were admitted to the Otolaryngology-Dysphagia Outpatient Clinic with diagnosis of ischemic or hemorrhagic stroke. Stroke was confirmed by computed tomography or magnetic resonance imaging, and medical evaluation. All patients had a swallowing and communication evaluation. We compared patients with and without dysphagia, and established the co-occurrence among dysphagia and communication disorders.

RESULTS

Twenty-five patients presented dysphagia. Aphasia occurred in 32.3% of the patients; dysarthria in 45.2%. Dysphagia and aphasia co-occurred in 29% of the population; dysphagia and dysarthria in 45.2%; the three conditions co-occurred in 22.6%. Dysarthria was a predictor of dysphagia, and it was associated with the presence of oral stage problems.

CONCLUSIONS

A comprehensive evaluation of dysphagia, aphasia, and dysarthria are important to improve clinical outcome following stroke. The identification of dysarthria as a predictor of dysphagia can help identify risk for dysphagia in stroke and assist in the therapeutic process of swallowing problems.