Drooling may be Associated with Dysphagia Symptoms in Multiple Sclerosis

This study aims to assess potential risk factors for drooling seen in PwMS. The study included 20 PwMS with drooling and 19 PwMS without drooling. The participants ’ sociodemographic data and clinical parameters were noted. To evaluate dysphagia, fatigue, and hypersalivation, the Dysphagia in Multiple Sclerosis Questionnaire (DYMUS), the Fatigue Severity Scale (FSS), and objective saliva flow rate measurement with cottons placed in Stensen ducts and under t he tongue (swab test) were used, respectively. The study employed univariate and multivariate logistic regression models to identify the risk factors linked to drooling. Gender, age, disease duration, MS type, and Expanded Disability Status Scale scores did not differ between the two groups. There w as a significant increase in the DYMUS and submandibular/sublingual (SM/SL) saliva flow rate values in PwMS with drooling (p = 0.009 andp = 0.019, respectively). However, in our study, hypersalivation was not observed in PwMS with or without drooling. In the univariate model, DYMUS, SM/SL saliva flow rate, and FSS were found to be risk factors for drooling in PwMS. But only DYMUS was shown to be a significant risk factor in the m ultivariate model obtained by the backward (Wald) elimination method (p = 0.023). Finally, our research is the first to demonstrate the relationship between drooling and the presence of dysphagia symptoms in PwMS. This is a very important study to determine the nature of drooling in PwMS...
Source: Dysphagia - Category: Speech-Language Pathology Source Type: research