Sarcopenic Dysphagia is Associated with Mortality in Institutionalized Older Adults.

Objective: To estimate mortality associated with sarcopenic dysphagia. Design: A 3-year follow-up cohort. Setting and Participants: Ninety-five nursing home residents were evaluated to determine the baseline presence or absence of oropharyngeal dysphagia and followed up for 3 years. Methods: The primary outcome was the risk of death. Dysphagia was assessed using a volume-viscosity swallow test. We used an algorithm to determine sarcopenic dysphagia based on grip strength, walking speed, calf circumference, and exclusion of neurologic or structural causes of dysphagia. We constructed 3 subgroups: without dysphagia, nonsarcopenic dysphagia, and sarcopenic dysphagia. Cox proportional regression analyses were used to predict the risk of death. Results: Thirty-five percent of participants had no dysphagia, 20% nonsarcopenic dysphagia, and 45% sarcopenic dysphagia. Sarcopenic dysphagia was independently associated with a higher risk of death [hazard ratio (HR) 2.44, 95% CI 1.02-5.80, P = .043] than without dysphagia. In addition, a higher Charlson Comorbidity Index score was associated with a higher risk of death (HR 1.33, 95% CI 1.01-1.75, P = .040). Conclusions and Implications: This study shows that sarcopenic dysphagia was associated with increased mortality among institutionalized older adults. These deaths could be potentially preventable. (C) 2022 AMDA - The Society for Post-Acute and Long-Term Care Medicine.