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Dysphagia Perception Among Community-Dwelling Older Adults from a Municipality in Southern Brazil

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Abstract

To analyse the prevalence of dysphagia perception and associated factors among community-dwelling older adults in Pelotas, Brazil. A total of 1447 community-dwelling individuals aged 60 and older participated in a cross-sectional population-based study carried out in 2014. Dysphagia perception was assessed using the following question: "Do you have swallowing difficulties? (Yes/No)". Independent variables included sociodemographic, behavioural and health characteristics. Poisson regression was used to obtain prevalence ratios. Dysphagia perception prevalence was 8.1%, higher among women (PR 1.63, 95% CI 1.07; 2.46) and in subjects older than 80 years (PR 1.88, 95% CI 1.16; 3.03). Older adults with 1–7 years of schooling were more likely to present dysphagia (PR 1.62; 95% CI 1.09; 2.40). Those who did not use dental prosthesis (PR 1.85; 95% CI 1.08; 3.16), who presented dry mouth sensation (PR 4.10; 95% CI 2.59; 6.51) and multimorbidity (PR 30.0; 95% CI 4.09; 219.45) were more likely to present dysphagia perception. The participants who consumed alcohol were 60% less likely to report dysphagia perception (PR 0.43; 95% CI 0.22; 0.86). One out of twelve older adults presented dysphagia perception, and associations with sociodemographic characteristics and other health problems were found. Early identification of dysphagia should be a public health and clinical concern.

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Acknowledgements

The Research Consortium was financed by resources from the master's students and also from the Programa de Excelência Acadêmica (PROEX) of the Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal do Nível Superior (CAPES).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Nutrition College, Federal University of Pelotas, Pelotas, Brazil

    Raquel Pedroso Mello & Renata Moraes Bielemann

  2. Post-Graduate Program in Epidemiology, Federal University of Pelotas, Marechal Deodoro St. 1160-30 Floor, Pelotas, 96020220, Brazil

    Mariana Otero Xavier, Elaine Tomasi, Flávio Fernando Demarco & Renata Moraes Bielemann

  3. Post-Graduate Program in Health and Behavior, Catholic University of Pelotas, Pelotas, Brazil

    Maria Cristina Gonzalez

  4. Post-Graduate Program in Dentistry, Federal University of Pelotas, Pelotas, Brazil

    Flávio Fernando Demarco

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  1. Raquel Pedroso Mello
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Correspondence to Mariana Otero Xavier.

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The study was approved by the Research Ethics Committee of the Faculty of Medicine of the Federal University of Pelotas (472,357/2013). All participants or guardians signed a Free and Informed Consent Form, and the right to refuse was guaranteed at any time during the research, as well as the confidentiality of the data provided.

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Mello, R.P., Xavier, M.O., Tomasi, E. et al. Dysphagia Perception Among Community-Dwelling Older Adults from a Municipality in Southern Brazil. Dysphagia 37, 879–888 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00455-021-10347-8

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