Association between severity of dysphagia and survival in patients with head and neck cancer

Samantha E Shune; Lucy Hynds Karnell; Michael P Karnell; Douglas J Van Daele; Gerry F Funk

doi:10.1002/hed.21819

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Association between severity of dysphagia and survival in patients with head and neck cancer

Journal article

Peer reviewed

Association between severity of dysphagia and survival in patients with head and neck cancer

Samantha E Shune, Lucy Hynds Karnell, Michael P Karnell, Douglas J Van Daele and Gerry F Funk

Head & neck, Vol.34(6), pp.776-784

06/2012

DOI: 10.1002/hed.21819

PMCID: PMC4304637

PMID: 22127835

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https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/4304637View

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Abstract

Background: This study examined risk factors for dysphagia, a common and serious condition in patients with head and neck cancer, and the association between severity of dysphagia and survival. Methods: Chart reviews were performed on patients diagnosed with head and neck cancer between January 2001 and April 2003, who had dysphagia diagnoses or swallowing evaluations. Regression analyses determined factors associated with dysphagia and the association between observed survival and severity of dysphagia. Results: Almost 50% of the 407 patients had dysphagia. Risk factors included advanced stage, older age, female sex, and hypopharyngeal tumors. The most severe dysphagia ([L.] nil per os or "nothing by mouth" status), which was associated with lower survival rates, was the strongest independent predictor of survival. Conclusions: Swallowing problems should be considered when determining appropriate cancer-directed treatment and posttreatment care. Because of dysphagia's high incidence rate and association with survival, a speech-language pathologist should be involved to ensure routine diagnostic and therapeutic swallowing interventions. Copyright © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

dysphagia

swallowing

head and neck cancer

swallowing therapy

survival

Details

Title: Subtitle: Association between severity of dysphagia and survival in patients with head and neck cancer
Creators: Samantha E Shune - Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders, University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa
Lucy Hynds Karnell - Department of Otolaryngology–Head and Neck Surgery, University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics, Iowa City, Iowa
Michael P Karnell - Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders, University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa
Douglas J Van Daele - Department of Otolaryngology–Head and Neck Surgery, University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics, Iowa City, Iowa
Gerry F Funk - Department of Otolaryngology–Head and Neck Surgery, University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics, Iowa City, Iowa
Resource Type: Journal article
Publication Details: Head & neck, Vol.34(6), pp.776-784
DOI: 10.1002/hed.21819
PMID: 22127835
PMCID: PMC4304637
NLM abbreviation: Head Neck
ISSN: 1043-3074
eISSN: 1097-0347
Language: English
Date published: 06/2012
Academic Unit: Communication Sciences and Disorders; Radiation Oncology; Craniofacial Anomalies Research Center; Medicine Administration; Otolaryngology
Record Identifier: 9984006435802771

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