Dysphagia in Parkinsonism: Prevalence, Predictors and Correlation with Severity of Illness Fasting

Dysphagia is frequently present in Parkinsonian syndromes and is associated with increased morbidity and mortality. Early identification of swallowing dysfunction is critical to minimize complications like aspiration pneumonia and malnutrition. Published prevalence rates for dysphagia in Parkinsonian syndromes vary widely with a very few studies from India. In this study we aimed to determine prevalence of dysphagia in Parkinson's disease and other Parkinson plus syndromes; to correlate it with severity of underlying illness and to determine the factors predicting dysphagia in patients of Parkinson's disease. It was a prospective observational study performed over 18 months in the neurology clinic of tertiary care public teaching hospital in Mumbai. All patients of Parkinson's disease (PD) diagnosed by UKPDS criteria and all patients of Parkinson-plus syndromes diagnosed clinically were included in the study serially. Patients with cognitive dysfunction (MMSE