Mrs Christine Davis1, Dr Lee Pryor1,2, Ms Anne Gatley1
1Central Adelaide Local Health Network, Adelaide, Australia, 2School of Allied Health Science and Practice, University of Adelaide, Adelaide, Australia
Abstract:
Background:
Acute oropharyngeal dysphagia is known to be associated with COVID-19 critical illness, including Intensive Care Unit (ICU) admission, intubation, ventilation, and tracheostomy. Circumstances arising from border closures and quarantine requirements in South Australia during the COVID-19 pandemic created a unique situation in our state. During the height of the pandemic, the Royal Adelaide Hospital Speech Pathology team observed that most referrals for dysphagia management in patients with COVID-19 were for patients who had not required admission to the intensive care unit. We offer our unique perspective, describing the characteristics of a cohort of adult patients with dysphagia, admitted to acute hospital with COVID-19.
Method:
A single site, retrospective case note audit was conducted from November 2021 to May 2022. Data on patient demographics, aetiology, nature and severity of dysphagia, and diet and fluid recommendations at baseline and on discharge from hospital were analysed using descriptive statistics.
Results:
135 participants were included, 80 male and 55 female, with a median age of 76 years. Five participants were admitted to ICU, with the remaining 130 participants receiving ward-based care only. Acute or acute on chronic oropharyngeal dysphagia was diagnosed in 93% of participants. COVID-19 illness was identified as an aetiology of dysphagia in 92% of the participants with an acute deterioration in swallow function.
Discussion:
Improving our understanding of dysphagia associated with COVID-19 illness will shape our approach to identification and management of dysphagia during the acute phase of COVID-19 illness and beyond.