Medicina Fluminensis, Vol. 62 No. 1, 2026.
Pregledni rad
https://doi.org/10.21860/medflum2026_343562
Prevalence of Dysphagia in People With Multiple Sclerosis Based on a Self-Report Questionnaire: a Systematic Review
Ella Senjanin
orcid.org/0009-0009-8588-4354
; Klinički bolnički centar Rijeka, Klinika za neurologiju, Rijeka, Hrvatska
*
Zdravko Kolundžić
orcid.org/0000-0001-8995-0122
; Sveučilište u Rijeci, Fakultet za logopediju, Rijeka, Hrvatska
Anja Liović
; Sveučilište u Rijeci, Fakultet za logopediju, Rijeka, Hrvatska
* Dopisni autor.
Sažetak
Dysphagia is a common and unrecognised complication in people with multiple sclerosis (MS) that can significantly reduce quality of life and increase the risk of aspiration pneumonia, malnutrition, and dehydration. Self-assessment questionnaires can be administered easily and quickly, and their evaluation and comparison can make a significant contribution to improving the care of people with MS by enabling early detection of dysphagia and timely intervention. The aim of this review is to determine the prevalence of dysphagia in people with MS based on several different self-assessment questionnaires and to analyse the methodological differences between studies that might influence the variation in dysphagia prevalence. A literature search was conducted in the PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, Medline, and Google Scholar databases using the following English keywords: dysphagia, multiple sclerosis, prevalence, self-assessment, questionnaire. This review followed the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) framework. The included studies were published in English and involved individuals with MS diagnosed according to the McDonald criteria. Studies had to use at least one validated self-assessment questionnaire and report on the prevalence of dysphagia and its association with clinical variables. Observational studies, cohort studies and randomised controlled trials were included. The results show that the prevalence of dysphagia based on self-assessment questionnaires varies between studies. The prevalence ranges from 5.88% to 92.2%. A higher prevalence of dysphagia is associated with higher scores on the Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS), progressive MS subtypes, and older age. Factors influencing differences in prevalence include the type of self-assessment questionnaire used, the method of defining dysphagia and the characteristics of the sample. In summary, the standardisation of definitions, the systematic implementation of surveys, and the routine use of self-assessment questionnaires are crucial for the early detection of dysphagia and the improvement of care of people with MS.
Ključne riječi
dysphagia; multiple sclerosis; prevalence; questionnaires; review literature as topic; self report
Hrčak ID:
343562
URI
Datum izdavanja:
1.3.2026.
Posjeta: 439 *