Health TrialsbyHealthPanel

Oral and Swallowing Function in Older Adults

ConditionOropharyngeal Dysphagia
Trial statusRecruiting
Trial phaseNot listed
Trial typeObservational
Biological sexAll
Age60+
SponsorUniversity of Wisconsin, Madison

About this trial

The purpose of this study is to learn about oral and swallowing function in older adults presenting to the emergency department. The hypothesis is that older adults often have problems with oral and swallowing function and these problems relate to other conditions. Study activities are done during the emergency department visit and include providing saliva samples, completing a bedside water swallow test, completing oral function assessments, completing respiratory function tests, and answering survey questions.

Eligibility criteria

This trial does not accept healthy volunteers

Qualifiers

Age ≥ 60

Clinically stable and able (not NPO) to safely drink water and eat a saltine cracker per ED provider

Disqualifiers

Prisoner

Non-English speaking

Trial population

Older adults presenting to the emergency department

Trial design

Design model

Cohort

Time perspective

Prospective

Treatments tested in this trial

  • 3-ounce water swallow test

    Diagnostic test

    Bedside water swallow dysphagia screen where vocal quality of the participant is assessed before and after swallowing 3 ounces of water

  • Kayser-Jones Brief Oral Health Status Examination (BOHSE)

    Diagnostic test

    Scored assessment of the lymph nodes, lips, tongue, tissue inside of cheek, floor and roof of mouth, gums between teeth and/or under artificial teeth, saliva, condition of natural/artificial teeth, chewing position of teeth, and oral cleanliness

  • Tongue pressure

    Diagnostic test

    Maximum isometric lingual pressure at the front and back of tongue will be measured by placing an air-filled pressure bulb on the surface of the oral tongue and having participants press the bulb "as hard as possible" against the hard palate

  • Test of Masticating and Swallowing Solids (TOMASS)

    Diagnostic test

    Measurement of bites, masticatory cycles, swallows, and time taken to consume a cracker

  • Respiratory function tests

    Diagnostic test

    Participants will take a maximum inhalation and forcefully exhale into a spirometer to measure maximum expiratory pressure (MEP), fully exhale their air and take a maximal inhalation into the spirometer to measure maximum inspiratory pressure (MIP), and produce a single strong cough into to spirometer to measure peak expiratory flow (PEF) and forced expiratory volume (FEV1)

Treatment groups

No treatment groups listed

Trial outcomes

Primary outcomes

1

Positive oropharyngeal dysphagia screen prevalence

Number of participants with positive oropharyngeal dysphagia screen identified through bedside dysphagia screen and patient reported swallowing function

Time frame
During emergency department visit, approximately 2-5 minutes for bedside dysphagia screen and 5-10 minutes for patient reported swallowing function

Secondary outcomes

1

Mean brief oral health status examination (BOHSE) score

Score 0 - 20 with 20 indicating the worst oral health

Time frame
During emergency department visit, approximately 2-5 minutes
2

Oral dryness prevalence

Number of participants with stimulated salivary flow rate (volume saliva/collection time) less than two standard deviations below published norms

Time frame
During emergency department visit, up to 10 minutes for saliva collection
3

Decreased tongue pressure prevalence

Number of participants with maximum isometric lingual pressures at front or back tongue location less than fifth percentile for published age-matched norms

Time frame
During emergency department visit, approximately 2-5 minutes
4

Decreased masticatory function prevalence

Number of participants with test of masticating and swallowing solids (TOMASS) greater than two standard deviations above published age- and sex-matched norms for any of four components: number of bites, number of masticatory cycles, number of swallows, total time

Time frame
During emergency department visit, approximately 2-5 minutes

Other outcomes

Sponsors and contacts

Click on the lead sponsor to view all of their trials.

University of Wisconsin, Madison

Lead sponsor

Source ClinicalTrials.gov
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