Valoración de la disfagia con el test método exploración clínica volumen-viscosidad en pacientes ingresados tras un accidente cerebrovascular

Abstract

Objective

The objective of this study is to describe the frequency of dysphagia and the associated factors in stroke patients hospitalised in the Neurology Unit of the Hospital Clínico Universitario Lozano Blesa, in Zaragoza, as well as to analyse the PPV and NPV of the volume-viscosity swallow test (V-VST).

Methods

A cross-sectional descriptive study was conducted on stroke patients in order to assess the detectability of dysphagia using the V-VST and to track their progress for 7 days.

Results

The large majority (87.7%) of the patients did not have dysphagia. The study population included 81 subjects, of which 65.4% were men with a mean age of 72.84 years. The stroke was ischaemic type in 59.3% of cases, with no previous history of stroke in 86.4%, and with a slight dependence in48.1% measured with Barthel index. The test was performed in the first 24 h in 79% of the population, with preventive dietary measures being introduced in 56.8% of patients. Some signs of lack of security were observed in 7 patients (8.6%) in the first week. Significant statistical relationships were found between the dysphagia and the dependence, signs of lack of security during the intake in the following days, and the type of diet. The PPV and NPV for V-VST in our patients was 14.28 and 94.11%, respectively.

Conclusions

The majority of patients did not have swallowing disorders due to their early detection with the V-VST, along with the dietary measures that appeared to reduce the risk of complications associated with dysphagia.