Prevalence and risk factors for dysphagia: a USA community study

Abstract

Background Dysphagia is considered an alarm symptom but detailed population-based data on dysphagia are lacking. We aimed to estimate in a representative US Caucasian population the prevalence of dysphagia and potential risk factors. Methods A modified version of the previously validated Bowel Disease Questionnaire was mailed to a population based cohort (n=7640) of Olmsted County, MN. Dysphagia was measured by one validated question “In the last year, how often have you had difficulty swallowing (a feeling that food sticks in your throat or chest)?” The medical records were reviewed for organic causes of dysphagia. The associations of reported frequency of dysphagia with potential risk factors were assessed using logistic regression models. Results The sex-specific, age-adjusted (US White 2000) prevalence for dysphagia experienced at least weekly was 3.0 % (95% CI: 2.2, 3.7) in females and 3.0 % (95% CI: 2.0, 4.0) in males. Those with frequent heartburn [OR=5.9 (4.0, 8.6)] and acid regurgitation [OR=10.6 (6.8, 16.6)] were significantly more likely to report frequent dysphagia. PPI use was significantly associated with frequent (3.1, 95% CI 2.2, 4.4) and infrequent dysphagia (1.5, 955 CI 1.3, 1.8). GERD was the most common diagnosis in those reporting dysphagia on the medical record; other organic explanations were rare and only found in the frequent dysphagia group. Conclusions Frequent dysphagia is not rare in the community (3%), occurs in both women and men across all adult age groups, and is most likely to indicate underlying GERD.

Alarm symptoms of upper gastrointestinal cancer and contact to general practice – A population-based study

“…we asked specifically about "repeated vomiting" rather than vomiting of any kind or due to an older study population in this study. Cho et al investigated self-reported "dysphagia" in an adult US Caucasian population and found that 3% had experienced "dysphagia" at least weekly within a recall period of 1 year [12]. In this study, 3.4% had experienced "difficulty swallowing" within the past 4 weeks.…”

Exploratory Research on Latent Esophageal Motility Disorders in Dysphagia Patients

“…Based on our results, esophageal motility disorder was common in PPI-resistant NERD patients complaining mainly of dysphagia. According to a report by Cho et al [18], 43% of 168 patients who had frequent dysphagia were found to have organic disease and had a significantly higher prevalence of GERD than patients without dysphagia [9]. …”

Anxiety can significantly explain bolus perception in the context of hypotensive esophageal motility: Results of a large multicenter study in asymptomatic individuals

“…Dysphagia is present in 3 to 9% in general population 1,2 , and up to 20% in older than 50 years 3 .…”