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Weight loss and body mass index in relation to aspiration in patients treated for head and neck cancer: a long-term follow-up

Ottosson, Sandra ; Lindblom, Ulrika LU ; Wahlberg, Peter LU ; Nilsson, Per LU orcid ; Kjellén, Elisabeth LU ; Zackrisson, Bjorn ; Jaghagen, Eva Levring and Laurell, Goran (2014) In Supportive Care in Cancer 22(9). p.2361-2369
Abstract
Persistent severe swallowing dysfunction with aspiration is a common and sometimes overlooked sequelae after treatment for squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck (SCCHN) and may impact food intake and nutritional status. More knowledge is needed to increase the understanding of severe swallowing dysfunction as a risk factor for persistent nutritional deteriorations in SCCHN survivors. The purpose of the study was to investigate weight loss and body mass index (BMI) in relation to pharyngeal swallowing function in a long-term perspective in patients after SCCHN treatment. Data from 101 patients were available for the analyses. Swallowing function was assessed by videofluoroscopy at a mean of 71.6 months after the start of radiotherapy... (More)
Persistent severe swallowing dysfunction with aspiration is a common and sometimes overlooked sequelae after treatment for squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck (SCCHN) and may impact food intake and nutritional status. More knowledge is needed to increase the understanding of severe swallowing dysfunction as a risk factor for persistent nutritional deteriorations in SCCHN survivors. The purpose of the study was to investigate weight loss and body mass index (BMI) in relation to pharyngeal swallowing function in a long-term perspective in patients after SCCHN treatment. Data from 101 patients were available for the analyses. Swallowing function was assessed by videofluoroscopy at a mean of 71.6 months after the start of radiotherapy (RT). Percent weight change (calculated with weight at the start of RT as the reference) and BMI at follow-up were the primary nutritional measures. Aspiration was present in 48 of 101 patients (48 %). Patients with aspiration had a significantly higher mean weight loss and a lower BMI (-10.9 % and 23.1, respectively) at follow-up compared with patients without aspiration (-2.8 % and 26.0, respectively). Patients with aspiration were unable to gain weight after 23 months. Only ten of 101 patients (10 %) were underweight at follow-up. Swallowing dysfunction with aspiration was related to long-term weight loss and reduced BMI. Few patients were underweight despite the high prevalence of swallowing dysfunction. (Less)
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author
; ; ; ; ; ; and
organization
publishing date
type
Contribution to journal
publication status
published
subject
keywords
Fluoroscopy, Swallowing dysfunction, Head and neck cancer, Weight loss, Body mass index
in
Supportive Care in Cancer
volume
22
issue
9
pages
2361 - 2369
publisher
Springer
external identifiers
  • wos:000339976900009
  • scopus:84906316886
  • pmid:24687537
ISSN
0941-4355
DOI
10.1007/s00520-014-2211-6
language
English
LU publication?
yes
id
1b63bb66-fe37-4219-b5d2-f38e0d1fab3b (old id 4665681)
date added to LUP
2016-04-01 15:04:09
date last changed
2022-02-27 05:58:14
@article{1b63bb66-fe37-4219-b5d2-f38e0d1fab3b,
  abstract     = {{Persistent severe swallowing dysfunction with aspiration is a common and sometimes overlooked sequelae after treatment for squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck (SCCHN) and may impact food intake and nutritional status. More knowledge is needed to increase the understanding of severe swallowing dysfunction as a risk factor for persistent nutritional deteriorations in SCCHN survivors. The purpose of the study was to investigate weight loss and body mass index (BMI) in relation to pharyngeal swallowing function in a long-term perspective in patients after SCCHN treatment. Data from 101 patients were available for the analyses. Swallowing function was assessed by videofluoroscopy at a mean of 71.6 months after the start of radiotherapy (RT). Percent weight change (calculated with weight at the start of RT as the reference) and BMI at follow-up were the primary nutritional measures. Aspiration was present in 48 of 101 patients (48 %). Patients with aspiration had a significantly higher mean weight loss and a lower BMI (-10.9 % and 23.1, respectively) at follow-up compared with patients without aspiration (-2.8 % and 26.0, respectively). Patients with aspiration were unable to gain weight after 23 months. Only ten of 101 patients (10 %) were underweight at follow-up. Swallowing dysfunction with aspiration was related to long-term weight loss and reduced BMI. Few patients were underweight despite the high prevalence of swallowing dysfunction.}},
  author       = {{Ottosson, Sandra and Lindblom, Ulrika and Wahlberg, Peter and Nilsson, Per and Kjellén, Elisabeth and Zackrisson, Bjorn and Jaghagen, Eva Levring and Laurell, Goran}},
  issn         = {{0941-4355}},
  keywords     = {{Fluoroscopy; Swallowing dysfunction; Head and neck cancer; Weight loss; Body mass index}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  number       = {{9}},
  pages        = {{2361--2369}},
  publisher    = {{Springer}},
  series       = {{Supportive Care in Cancer}},
  title        = {{Weight loss and body mass index in relation to aspiration in patients treated for head and neck cancer: a long-term follow-up}},
  url          = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s00520-014-2211-6}},
  doi          = {{10.1007/s00520-014-2211-6}},
  volume       = {{22}},
  year         = {{2014}},
}