Dysphagia and Functional Limitations Among Adults in the United States: Findings from the 2022 National Health Interview Survey

This study aimed to determine if individuals with dysphagia had difficulties with participating in daily tasks requiring physical function, as compared to those with no dysphagia. We conducted a secondary data analysis using the responses of 24,107 adults aged 18  years or older who completed the 2022 National Health Interview Survey. The independent variable was report of swallowing problem during the past 12 months, and the dependent variables were report of difficulty in physical function tasks (e.g., self-care, mobility, working, social participation). We utilized propensity score methods to balance demographic and clinical variables between groups, and examined if individuals with dysphagia had more difficulties with the physical function tasks. The propensity score methods balanced the demographic and clinical variables (absolute standardized d ifferences <  0.1). People with dysphagia had significantly higher odds ratios (ranged from 1.23 to 1.70, allp <  0.05) of having difficulties in physical function tasks than those without dysphagia. The findings revealed an association between experiencing dysphagia and encountering difficulties in self-care, mobility, working, and social participation in the general adult population in the US. Results of o ur study indicate that during the course of rehabilitation, healthcare professionals should consider the potential impact of dysphagia symptoms on clients’ ability to partake in independent activities in the...
Source: Dysphagia - Category: Speech-Language Pathology Source Type: research