Abstract
Objective:
To investigate the relationship between Handgrip Strength (HGS), dysphagia classification, nutritional aspects, and Pharyngeal Transit Time (PTT) in subjects with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD).
Methods:
Study based on the analysis of secondary data from a database. The sample comprised 15 COPD patients of both sexes and a mean age of 65.7 years. We collected information on HGS, videofluoroscopic swallowing study, Volume-Viscosity Swallow Test (V-VST), and Body Mass Index (BMI). We applied correlation, effect size, and logistic regression tests at the 5% significance level.
Results:
Most individuals had severe COPD (66.7%), mean dominant HGS of 28.2, and non-dominant HGS of 25.3. Five subjects were malnourished, five were well-nourished, and five were obese. Most of them had normal swallowing (40%), normal V-VST results (60%), and PTT of 0.89 s (liquid) and 0.81 s (pudding-thick). There was no significant correlation between the swallowing classification and the other variables. We obtained a significant correlation (p = 0.015), though weak (r = –0.611), between non-dominant HGS and PTT. Regarding the binary logistic regression, HGS variables and HGS asymmetry were not enough to be considered a risk to clinically abnormal swallowing (V-VST).
Conclusion:
Subjects with COPD in this study had a longer PTT than reported in the literature for normal subjects and a weak correlation between PTT and non-dominant HGS. The variables related to muscle condition were not considered predictors for abnormal swallowing.
Level of evidence: 3.
KEYWORDS
Pulmonary disease; Chronic obstructive; Deglutition disorders; Hand strength; Muscle weakness
HIGHLIGHTS
Study with 15 individuals of both sexes, with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD), and mean age of 65.7 years.
Most of the subjects in this study had severe COPD, reduced HGS, balanced BMI, normal swallowing, and longer PTT.
A significant, albeit weak, correlation was obtained between PTT and ND-HGS.
The HGS variables and HGS asymmetry were not enough to be considered a risk for abnormal swallowing.