Poster 62: Prevalence of dysphagia in inflammatory myositis1

Abstract Objective: To determine the prevalence and the phases of dysphagia in inflammatory myositis. Design: Inception cohort study. Setting: Rehabilitation department of a tertiary care hospital. Participants: 64 patients (39 women, 25 men; mean age, 45.1±15.9y) diagnosed as inflammatory myositis by the rheumatologists. Interventions: Not applicable. Main Outcome Measures: We reviewed patient charts, and surveyed patients' current feeding, underlying disease, and the prevalence and phases of dysphagia using a questionnaire. The questionnaire was composed of 11 different determinants, 7 for the evaluation of the oral phase and 4 for the pharyngeal phase. Results: The mean age when diagnosed was 41.4±14.8 years. The prevalence of dysphagia was 50% (32/64), 34% (22/64) in the oral phase, and 43.8% (28/64) in the pharyngeal phase. There was no significant difference between dermatomyositis and polymyositis regarding the prevalence. The most common cause of dysphagia was pharyngeal muscle weakness (35.9% in the pharyngeal phase) and dry mouth (28.1% in the oral phase). The next most common causes were opening of mouth (12.5%), chewing (12.5%), residual material in mouth (12.5% in the oral phase), and choking sign indicating aspiration (29.7% in the pharyngeal phase). Conclusion: The prevalence of dysphagia in inflammatory myositis is very high. Because we can train these patients to improve dysphagia, we must pay particular attention to dysphagia.