Page 83 - Portuguese Journal - SPORL - Vol 61. Nº2

Swallowing and ageing

Review Article

Authors Abstract

Swallowing disorders, including dysphagia, are
Isabel Silva-Carvalho highly prevalent in the elderly and are associated
Serviço de Otorrinolaringologia do Departamento de with significantly negative outcomes, including
Cirurgia do Centro Hospitalar Universitário de Santo malnutrition, dehydration, pneumonia, reduced
António, Instituto Superior de Ciências Biomédicas Abel quality of life, and caregiver burden. Although
Salazar, Universidade do Porto, Portugal
oropharyngeal dysphagia is responsible for such
Adriana Martins complications, it is often not detected and treated.
Serviço de Otorrinolaringologia do Departamento de The elderly and caregivers often are unaware of
Cirurgia do Centro Hospitalar Universitário de Santo their dysfunction.
António, Portugal Understanding the physiology of normal
swallowing and swallowing disorders in the elderly
J. Rodrigues Sousa is essential, as well as distinguishing between
Instituto Superior de Ciências Biomédicas Abel Salazar, functional changes in swallowing in the elderly
Universidade do Porto, Portugal and dysphagia.
In addition to numerous screening tools and
Susana Vaz-Freitas clinical evaluation protocols, videofluoroscopy and
Serviço de Otorrinolaringologia do Departamento de
Cirurgia do Centro Hospitalar Universitário de Santo videoendoscopy of swallowing are considered the
António, Escola Superior de Saúde, Instituto Politécnico gold standard for the diagnosis of oropharyngeal
do Porto, Laboratório de Inteligência Artificial e Apoio à dysphagia.
Decisão (LIAAD) - INESC TEC, Portugal The primary goal of dysphagia intervention is to
reduce the morbidity and mortality associated
Luís Meireles with respiratory infections and poor nutritional
Serviço de Otorrinolaringologia do Departamento de status, promoting safe and adequate nutrition
Cirurgia do Centro Hospitalar Universitário de Santo and hydration with minimal complications.
António, Portugal Keywords: oropharyngeal dysphagia, aging,

presbyphagia.

Introduction
Aging is a relevant phenomenon because of
its implications in the physical, emotional,
and social domains. Structural and functional
changes occur during the aging process;
however, these should not be considered
diseases, and it is important to distinguish
between aging and conditions more prevalent
in older age groups .
1
The understanding of the physiology and
advancements in the evaluation of swallowing
and its disorders in older adults remains
undervalued by the general population and
Correspondence: the medical community. Oropharyngeal
Isabel Silva-Carvalho dysphagia (OPD) is characterized by difficulty
imscarvalho@gmail.com
in bolus transfer from the mouth to the
Article received on March 11, 2023. stomach. OPD is a clinical condition with a
Accepted for publication on May 22, 2023. high prevalence, affecting up to 13% of the

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