Dysphagia risk evaluated by the Eating Assessment Tool-10 is associated with health-related quality of life in patients with chronic liver disease

Objective

This study aimed to reveal the prevalence and characteristics of individuals at risk of dysphagia in patients with chronic liver disease (CLD) and its association with health-related quality of life (HRQOL).

Methods

This cross-sectional study included 335 outpatients with CLD. Dysphagia risk, sarcopenia risk, malnutrition risk, and HRQOL were assessed using the Eating Assessment tool-10 (EAT-10), SARC-F, Royal Free Hospital-Nutrition Prioritizing Tool (RFH-NPT), and Chronic Liver Disease Questionnaire (CLDQ), respectively. Dysphagia risk and low HRQOL were based on EAT-10 ≥3 and CLDQ overall score <5, respectively. Factors associated with dysphagia risk and low HRQOL were assessed using the logistic regression model.

Results

Dysphagia risk and lower HRQOL were observed in 10% and 31% of the patients, respectively. Patients with dysphagia risk were older, had lower liver functional reserve, were at higher risk for sarcopenia and malnutrition, and showed lower CLDQ overall score (median, 4.41 vs. 5.69; P < 0.001) than those without. After adjustment, SARC-F (odds ratio [OR], 1.24; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.02–1.50; P = 0.029) and RFH-NPT (OR, 1.71; 95% CI, 1.04–2.81; P = 0.034) scores were independently associated with dysphagia risk. EAT-10 (OR, 1.17; 95% CI, 1.04–1.30; P = 0.008) and SARC-F (OR, 1.37; 95% CI, 1.18–1.59; P < 0.001) scores were also independently associated with low HRQOL.

Conclusions

Dysphagia risk was prevalent in approximately 10% of patients with CLD and was associated with a risk of sarcopenia and malnutrition. Furthermore, dysphagia risk was related to HRQOL in patients with CLD.