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Self-Reported Dysphagia and Psychosocial Health Among Community-Dwelling Older Adults: Results of a National Study.

Publication ,  Journal Article
Leiman, DA; Jones, HN; North, R; Porter Starr, KN; Pieper, CF; Cohen, SM
Published in: J Gen Intern Med
November 2023

BACKGROUND: The risk of dysphagia increases with age, affecting up to 33% of adults over the age of 65. Older adults with dysphagia are at increased risk for negative physical health outcomes such as aspiration pneumonia and death. However, the relationship between dysphagia and psychosocial health is uncertain in this population. OBJECTIVE: We aimed to assess the associations between dysphagia and psychosocial health among older adults (≥ 65) with self-reported dysphagia. DESIGN: We performed a cross-sectional assessment of the National Health and Aging Trends Study (NHATS) conducted in 2019. MAIN MEASURES: Weighted logistic and linear regression models were used to assess the relationship between self-reported dysphagia and psychosocial health using established patient-reported outcome measures including those for depression, anxiety, and social isolation previously used in NHATS analyses, while adjusting for demographics, comorbid conditions, and risk factors for dysphagia identified by purposeful selection. KEY RESULTS: Among the 4041 adults in this cohort, almost half (40%) were between 70 and 74 years old, more than half were female (55%), and a significantly higher proportion were White, non-Hispanic respondents (78.1%, p < 0.01) compared with other races and ethnicities. There were 428 (10.5%) respondents reporting dysphagia symptoms within the previous month. In the multivariable model, dysphagia was associated with significantly increased odds of anxiety (OR 1.33 [1.06, 1.67]) and a significantly decreased sense of well-being (coefficient - 1.10 [- 1.66, - 0.54]), but no association was detected for social isolation. CONCLUSIONS: When accounting for factors associated with underlying physical health status, self-reported dysphagia is independently associated with negative psychosocial health and warrants attention by healthcare providers. Future studies should aim to identify causal factors and the extent to which interventions may mitigate these factors.

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Published In

J Gen Intern Med

DOI

EISSN

1525-1497

Publication Date

November 2023

Volume

38

Issue

15

Start / End Page

3329 / 3338

Location

United States

Related Subject Headings

  • Social Isolation
  • Self Report
  • Male
  • Independent Living
  • Humans
  • General & Internal Medicine
  • Female
  • Deglutition Disorders
  • Cross-Sectional Studies
  • Aged
 

Citation

APA
Chicago
ICMJE
MLA
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Leiman, D. A., Jones, H. N., North, R., Porter Starr, K. N., Pieper, C. F., & Cohen, S. M. (2023). Self-Reported Dysphagia and Psychosocial Health Among Community-Dwelling Older Adults: Results of a National Study. J Gen Intern Med, 38(15), 3329–3338. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11606-023-08232-1
Leiman, David A., Harrison N. Jones, Rebecca North, Kathryn N. Porter Starr, Carl F. Pieper, and Seth M. Cohen. “Self-Reported Dysphagia and Psychosocial Health Among Community-Dwelling Older Adults: Results of a National Study.J Gen Intern Med 38, no. 15 (November 2023): 3329–38. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11606-023-08232-1.
Leiman DA, Jones HN, North R, Porter Starr KN, Pieper CF, Cohen SM. Self-Reported Dysphagia and Psychosocial Health Among Community-Dwelling Older Adults: Results of a National Study. J Gen Intern Med. 2023 Nov;38(15):3329–38.
Leiman, David A., et al. “Self-Reported Dysphagia and Psychosocial Health Among Community-Dwelling Older Adults: Results of a National Study.J Gen Intern Med, vol. 38, no. 15, Nov. 2023, pp. 3329–38. Pubmed, doi:10.1007/s11606-023-08232-1.
Leiman DA, Jones HN, North R, Porter Starr KN, Pieper CF, Cohen SM. Self-Reported Dysphagia and Psychosocial Health Among Community-Dwelling Older Adults: Results of a National Study. J Gen Intern Med. 2023 Nov;38(15):3329–3338.
Journal cover image

Published In

J Gen Intern Med

DOI

EISSN

1525-1497

Publication Date

November 2023

Volume

38

Issue

15

Start / End Page

3329 / 3338

Location

United States

Related Subject Headings

  • Social Isolation
  • Self Report
  • Male
  • Independent Living
  • Humans
  • General & Internal Medicine
  • Female
  • Deglutition Disorders
  • Cross-Sectional Studies
  • Aged