Factors associated with oropharyngeal dysphagia diagnosed by videofluoroscopy in children with cerebral palsy.

Abstract

Oropharyngeal dysphagia (OD) occurs in children with cerebral palsy. It is important to investigate its relationship with some variables, and the objective of this study was to identify factors associated with OD. Case-control study in patients with cerebral palsy from 8months to 15years of age, from November 2018 to November 2019, approved by the Ethics Committee. The diagnosis of OD was made by videofluoroscopy when there was nasopharyngeal reflux, stagnation in the vallecular sinuses, in the piriformis sinuses, penetration, and aspiration. The independent variables were type of cerebral palsy, gross motor impairment classified into five levels, nutritional status and comorbidities. One case with OD was included and the next one without alterations in videofluoroscopy was control. The variables were compared with Chi square and Student's t. The association was measured with odds ratio. The confidence interval was 95%. Thirty patients with OD and 30without OD were studied. Sex, age, birth weight, and gestational age had a similar distribution in the two groups. From the data perceived by the mothers at the time of feeding, the greater frequency of the difficulty in the transfer of the food bolus in the group with OD showed a statistically significant difference (P<.001) and of the studied factors, the levelV of the gross motor involvement was associated with a higher frequency of OD. OD was associated with level V of gross motor involvement.