Mann Assessment Of Swallowing Ability Score Research Articles

Prediction of Oral Intake at Discharge with Early Assessment of Swallowing Function within 24h after Admission: A Retrospective Cohort Study.

Dysphagia is one of the most common symptoms of stroke and can lead to other complications such as pneumonia, dehydration, and malnutrition. This retrospective cohort study evaluated the predictive value of a comprehensive swallowing assessment tool, the Mann Assessment of Swallowing Ability (MASA), in the acute phase of stroke for oral intake status at discharge. Among 1,133 consecutive patients with acute stroke, 512 patients whose swallowing function was assessed using the MASA within 24h of admission were included. Data including demographic information, stroke severity, MASA, Oral Health Assessment Tool, body mass index, and serum albumin level were collected. Predictive factors for oral intake were analyzed using a multiple logistic regression model, and the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis was used to determine the cutoff values of the MASA score for determining oral intake at discharge. Oral intake at discharge was established in 69.1% of the cohort (354/512). The multiple logistic regression analysis identified a higher MASA score, younger age, and higher serum albumin level as significant predictors of oral intake at discharge. The cutoff value of the MASA score for oral intake was 136.5 points, with an area under the ROC curve of 0.87. These findings suggest that the MASA is a valid tool for predicting oral intake in patients with dysphagia during the acute phase of stroke.

Functional improvements of patients admitted to an inpatient rehabilitation facility after bilateral lung transplant due to severe COVID-19 pulmonary disease.

Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) has introduced a new subset of patients with acute end-stage lung damage for which lung transplantation has been successfully performed. To describe the inpatient rehabilitation course of patients who underwent bilateral lung transplant due to severe COVID-19 pulmonary disease. Retrospective chart review. Free-standing, academic, urban inpatient rehabilitation hospital. Seventeen patients aged 28-67 years old (mean 53.9 ± 10.7) who developed COVID-19 respiratory failure and underwent bilateral lung transplant. Patients participated in a comprehensive inpatient rehabilitation program including physical, occupational, and speech therapy tailored to the unique functional needs of each individual. Primary outcome measures of functional improvements, include mobility and self-care scores on section GG of the Functional Abilities and Goals of the Improving Post-Acute Care Transformation Act, as defined as quality measures by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. Other functional measures included 6 minute walk test, Berg balance scale, Mann Assessment of Swallowing Ability (MASA), and Cognition and Memory Functional Independence Measure (FIM) scores. Wilcoxon signed rank sum test was used to evaluate statistical significance of change between admission and discharge scores. Fourteen patients completed inpatient rehabilitation. Self-care (GG0130) mean score improved from 20.9 to 36.1. Mobility (GG0170) mean score improved from 30.7 to 70.7. Mean 6-minute walk distance improved from 174.1 to 467.6 feet. Mean Berg balance scores improved from 18.6/56 to 36.3/56. MASA scores improved from 171.3 to 182.3. All functional measures demonstrated statistically significant improvements with p value ≤ .008, except for cognition and memory FIM scores, which did not show a statistically significant difference. A majority (76%) of patients discharged home. This new and unique patient population can successfully participate in a comprehensive inpatient rehabilitation program and achieve functional improvements despite medical complications.

Neuromuscular Electrical Stimulation in Conjunction with Conventional Swallowing Therapy in the Treatment of Dysphagia Caused by Multiple Sclerosis: A Single-Case Experimental Design

Introduction: Dysphagia as a consequence of multiple sclerosis (MS) puts individuals at higher risk of dehydration, malnutrition, and aspiration pneumonia. This study intended to investigate the effects of a combined program of neuromuscular electrical stimulation (NMES) and conventional swallowing therapy to improve swallow safety and efficiency, oral intake, and physical, emotional, and functional impacts of dysphagia in people with dysphagia and MS. Methods: In this single-case experimental study with ABA design, two participants with dysphagia caused by MS underwent 12 sessions therapy during 6 weeks following a baseline of 4 evaluation sessions. They were evaluated 4 more times in the follow-up phase after therapy sessions. Scores of Mann Assessment of Swallowing Ability (MASA), DYsphagia in MUltiple Sclerosis (DYMUS), and timed test of swallowing capacity were obtained at baseline, during treatment, and in the follow-up phases. The Dysphagia Outcome and Severity Scale (DOSS) based on videofluoroscopic swallow studies, Persian-Dysphagia Handicap Index (Persian-DHI), and Functional Oral Intake Scale (FOIS) were also completed before and after treatment. Visual analysis and percentage of nonoverlapping data were calculated. Results: MASA, DYMUS, FOIS, and DHI scores indicated significant improvement in both participants. Although the scores of the timed test of swallowing capacity in participant 1 (B.N.) and DOSS in participant 2 (M.A.) showed no changes, considerable improvements including reducing the amount of residue and the number of swallows required to clear bolus were seen in the posttreatment videofluoroscopic records of both participants. Conclusion: NMES in conjunction with conventional dysphagia therapy based on motor learning principles could improve the swallowing function and decrease disabling effects of dysphagia on different aspects of life in participants with dysphagia caused by MS.

Diagnostic Accuracy of Mann Assessment of Swallowing Ability for Predicting Dysphagia in Patients with Psychiatric Disorders.

Dysphagia occurs in various diseases and constitutes a major concern in patients with psychiatric disorders. The Mann Assessment of Swallowing Ability (MASA) comprises 24 clinical parameters designed to identify swallowing disorders. One item in MASA, the "gag reflex", involves an unpleasant stimulus, which means that it is often omitted when the test is administered. The aims of this study were to determine the presence/absence of dysphagia in patients with psychiatric disorders using the MASA and determine its diagnostic accuracy when the gag reflex item was excluded in patients with psychiatric disorders. The study participants comprised patients admitted to a hospital psychiatric ward in whom dysphagia had been suspected based on oral intake status. The following items were determined: age, total MASA score (23 out of 24 items, giving a score out of 195 points), body mass index score, milligram equivalents of chlorpromazine, and the Food Intake Level Scale score. The patients were divided into two groups according to the presence or absence of swallowing problems as assessed by videoendoscopic or videofluoroscopic examination. The scores for each item investigated in the MASA, including the total score, were compared between the two groups. Receiver operating characteristic curve analysis was carried out to determine the optimum cut-off value. The total MASA score, which excluded the "gag reflex" item, was lower in the problematic swallowing group than in the non-problematic swallowing group. The MASA scores for cooperation, respiratory, dysphasia, tongue coordination, oral preparation, pharyngeal phase, and pharyngeal response tended to be lower in the problematic swallowing group. Furthermore, an optimum cut-off value of 169 points (sensitivity, 0.92; specificity, 0.68; likelihood ratio, 2.84) was identified. These results indicate that the cut-off MASA score is effective in screening for dysphagia, even when the "gag reflex" item is excluded.

Temporomandibular Joint Dysfunction and Impaired Stomatognathic Alignment: A Problem Beyond Swallowing in Patients With Stroke.

The aim of this study is to evaluate the efficacy of supervised structured exercise programme in post stroke patients with temporomandibular joint dysfunction (TMJD). 30 post stroke patients diagnosed as TMJD according to "diagnostic criteria for temporomandibular disorders" (DC/TMD) were included for the study. A structured exercise programme including active and active-assisted range of motion (ROM) exercises for neck and temporomandibular joint (TMJ), chins tuck exercises, breathing and relaxing exercises and posture exercises were performed. Cervical ROMs including flexion, extansion, lateral flexion and rotation, Mann assessment of swallowing ability (MASA) and mini mental state exam (MMSE) scores, maximal mouth opening (MMO) and craniomandibular index (CMI) of the patients compared at baseline, 1st and 6th month after supervised rehabilitation procedure. All parameters were significantly improved both in 1st and 6th month evaluation. At 6th month evaluation, the cervical ROMs of the patients improved from severe to mild restriction (p = 0.001), the mean MASA score of the patients improved from moderate to mild swallowing disorder (p = 0.001), mean MMSE score of 30 patients was accepted as normal (p = 0.001), mean MMO of the patients was 56.00 ± 4.84mm and mean CMI was 0.16 ± 0.05 indicating that the patients had a "mild" limitation in mouth opening and "mild" dysfunction in TMJ (p = 0.001 respectively). Our structured supervised exercise programme improves swallowing quality by establishing proper stomatognathic alignment and TMJ function.

Assessment of Aspiration Risk Using the Mann Assessment of Swallowing Ability in Brain-Injured Patients With Cognitive Impairment.

Objectives: The purposes of this study are to determine whether there is a correlation between the Mann Assessment of Swallowing Ability (MASA) and modified MASA (mMASA) according to various cognitive status and to investigate whether the cognitive status of patients with brain damage affects the prediction of aspiration using the MASA.Methods: We retrospectively assessed 146 dysphagic patients with brain lesion due to various causes. Dysphagia was assessed using the MASA and mMASA. According to the videofluoroscopic swallowing study results, patients were divided into two groups: aspirators and non-aspirators. Patients were classified into four groups according to cognitive function according to the Korean version of Mini-mental State Examination scores: normal (>24), mild (21–24), moderate (10–20), and severe (<10) cognitive impairment. The correlation between the MASA and mMASA scores according to cognitive function were analyzed. The sensitivity, specificity, and positive and negative predictive values of the MASA scores for predicting aspiration were assessed.Results: The MASA and mMASA scores showed a significant positive correlation in all cognition groups. In patients with more severe cognitive impairment MASA scores had high sensitivity and low specificity for prediction of aspiration. On the other hand, the MASA scores had low sensitivity and high specificity for prediction of aspiration in the normal and mild cognitive impairment groups.Conclusions: The MASA and mMASA scores correlated with each other in patients with various levels of cognitive function. Interestingly, this study results demonstrated that patients with good cognitive function may have false negative results of MASA screening due to low sensitivity. Thus, when interpreting the MASA results, the impact of cognitive status should be taken into consideration.

The effect of repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation combined with traditional dysphagia therapy on poststroke dysphagia: a pilot double-blinded randomized-controlled trial.

Dysphagia following stroke is common and can lead to severe complications such as aspiration pneumonia, but there is inconclusive evidence on how poststroke dysphagia should be treated. This study aimed to investigate the effects of repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) combined with the traditional dysphagia therapy on the swallowing function in patients with poststroke dysphagia. In this pilot double-blind randomized clinical trial, 18 patients with poststroke dysphagia were allocated randomly to three groups: (i) traditional dysphagia therapy, (ii) rTMS, and (iii) combined intervention. Patients received traditional dysphagia therapy for 18 treatment sessions three times per week. The inhibitory rTMS was applied to the intact cerebral hemisphere at 1 Hz with a train of 1200 for 5 consecutive days. The patients in the combined intervention group received traditional dysphagia therapy and rTMS simultaneously. The Mann Assessment of Swallowing Ability (MASA) and Functional Oral Intake Scale were performed before treatment, after the end of the fifth session, after the end of the 10th session, after the end of the 15th session, and after the end of the 18th session. All groups had improved on MASA and Functional Oral Intake Scale scores over time (P<0.01). The improvements achieved in all outcomes were significantly greater in the combined intervention group than those of the traditional dysphagia therapy and rTMS groups. The large effect sizes were found for the MASA score in all groups: traditional dysphagia therapy group (d = 3.57), rTMS group (d = 2.67), and combined intervention group (d = 3.87). This pilot randomized-controlled trial showed that the combination of rTMS and traditional dysphagia therapy significantly improved swallowing function in patients with poststroke dysphagia.

Relationship between the Functional Independence Measure and Mann Assessment of Swallowing Ability in hospitalized patients with pneumonia.

Pneumonia ranks high among the causes of death worldwide. However, the predictive values of activities of daily living, the nutrition index and the aspiration index measured objectively remain unclear. The present study aimed to examine the associations of activity, nutrition and dysphagia with pneumonia. We assessed 992 hospitalized patients. Logistic regression analysis was used to examine the predictors of pneumonia. Receiver operating characteristic curve analysis was used to determine the cut-off values of variables. Kaplan-Meier and Cox hazards regression analyses were used to examine the incidence of pneumonia and the factors associated with pneumonia. We finally enrolled 393 inpatients. Of the 393 patients, 102 (26.0%) had pneumonia. On logistic regression analysis, age, Functional Independence Measure (FIM)-motor score and Mann Assessment of Swallowing Ability (MASA) score were independent predictors of pneumonia. The FIM-motor and MASA cut-off values were 19.5 (area under the curve 0.83, P < 0.01) and 170.5 (area under the curve 0.82, P < 0.01), respectively. Kaplan-Meier analysis showed that the no pneumonia rate was significantly lower among patients with FIM-motor scores <20 than among those with FIM-motor scores ≥20 (log-rank test, P < 0.01), and was significantly lower among patients with MASA scores <171 than among those with MASA scores ≥171 (log-rank test, P < 0.01). Cox regression analysis showed that FIM-motor (hazard ratio 0.97, P = 0.009) and MASA scores (hazard ratio 0.99, P < 0.01) were significantly associated with pneumonia. In addition to the infectious risk, the FIM-motor and MASA scales are useful tools to predict the development of pneumonia in older adults. Geriatr Gerontol Int 2018; 18: 1620-1624.

A Validated Swallow Screener for Dysphagia and Aspiration in Patients with Stroke

Early detection of dysphagia is critical to reducing hospital complications and length of stay in patients with various types of strokes. The aim of this study was to develop and evaluate the DePaul Hospital Swallow Screener (DHSS) tool to assess for dysphagia in patients with stroke. This prospective observational study investigated patients admitted to a comprehensive stroke center. The DHSS is composed of a questionnaire containing 8 nonswallow items and a water swallow test. All patients admitted under a standard stroke protocol are screened by the nursing staff using the DHSS and then objectively evaluated by a speech-language pathologist using the Mann Assessment of Swallowing Ability (MASA). Validity measures and reliability through Cohen's κ-coefficient with associated 95% confidence intervals were calculated. A total of 224 patients completed the DHSS and had at least 1 MASA score. The overall Content Validity Index score for the DHSS was .92. Compared with the MASA dysphagia cutoff value, the DHSS had a specificity of 93% and a sensitivity of 69%, and compared with the MASA aspiration risk cutoff value, the DHSS had a specificity of 90% and a sensitivity of 70%. Stratified analysis for those with any documented stroke (ischemic or hemorrhagic) compared with those admitted with transient ischemic attack or no stroke yielded similar sensitivity and specificity in both dysphagia and aspiration risk. The DHSS is a valid and reliable swallow screening tool with moderate agreement, high specificity, and reliable predictive values when compared with the MASA.

The effect of traditional dysphagia therapy on the swallowing function in patients with Multiple Sclerosis: A pilot double-blinded randomized controlled trial

BackgroundDysphagia is common following Multiple Sclerosis (MS) and is associated with significant morbidity and mortality. The current rehabilitation program to swallowing therapy is Traditional Dysphagia Therapy (TDT), but there is a dearth of evidence about its effectiveness in MS patients. ObjectivesThis study was aimed to determine the effects of the TDT on the swallowing function in MS patients with dysphagia. MethodsA pilot double blind randomized clinical trial was carried out on 20 patients with MS. Patients were randomly divided into experimental group (TDT) comprising sensorimotor exercises and swallowing maneuvers, and Usual Care (UC) comprising diet prescription and postural changes. Patients in both groups received treatments for 6 weeks, 18 treatment sessions, 3 times per week, every other day. The Mann Assessment of Swallowing Ability (MASA) was the main outcome measure. The swallowing ability was assessed before treatment (T0), after the end of 9th session (T1), after the end of 18th session (T2), and after 6 weeks follow-up (T3). Penetration–Aspiration Scale (PAS) and Pharyngeal Residue Rating Scale (PRRS) as secondary outcome measures were applied at T0 and T2. ResultsBoth groups had improved regarding MASA, PAS and PRRS scores over the time (P < 0.001). The improvements achieved in all outcomes were significantly greater in the TDT group than those of the UC group. The Main effect of the Time × Group interaction was significant for MASA score (P < 0.001). The large effect sizes were found for MASA score in both the TDT (d = 3.91) and the UC (d = 1.11) groups. ConclusionsThis pilot randomized controlled trial showed that the TDT significantly improved the swallowing function of the MS patients with dysphagia.

Evaluation of the Mann Assessment of Swallowing Ability in Elderly Patients with Pneumonia

Elderly pneumonia patients have various underlying diseases and social backgrounds, and it is difficult to predict their mortality using the current severity assessment tools. However, aspiration is a risk factor for mortality in pneumonia patients. In the evaluation of aspiration, endoscopic and video fluoroscopic methods are reliable but cannot be performed in all pneumonia patients. We evaluated the significance of the Mann Assessment of Swallowing Ability (MASA) in these patients. This study was prospectively performed between December 2014 and June 2015, and all adult hospitalized patients with pneumonia were consecutively enrolled. The MASA score was evaluated soon after admission. The outcome measures were in-hospital mortality, a recurrence of pneumonia within 30 days, 6-month mortality, and the detection of antibiotic-resistant bacteria. A total of 153 patients were ultimately included. The proportion of in-hospital mortality was greater among the severe MASA score patients than normal score patients (p < 0.01), as was the proportion of recurrence of pneumonia (p < 0.01) and 6-month mortality (p < 0.01). In addition, patients with a moderate MASA score more often experienced recurrence of pneumonia than normal score patients (p < 0.05). Furthermore, patients with a mild MASA score more often experienced recurrence of pneumonia (p < 0.01) and 6-month mortality (p < 0.05) than normal score patients. The areas under the curve were 0.74 (95% confidence interval [CI], 0.67-0.82) for in-hospital mortality, 0.75 (95% CI, 0.68-0.82) for recurrence of pneumonia, 0.72 (95% Cl, 0.64-0.81) for 6-month mortality, and 0.60 (95% CI, 0.46-0.73) for detection of antibiotic-resistant bacteria. A multivariate analysis showed an abnormal MASA score to be an independent risk factor for the recurrence of pneumonia (p = 0.001) and 6-month mortality (p = 0.005). The MASA is useful for predicting the mortality and recurrence of pneumonia in elderly patients.

Efficacy of Predicting Videofluoroscopic Results in Dysphagic Patients with Severe Cerebral Palsy Using the Mann Assessment of Swallowing Ability.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of the Mann Assessment of Swallowing Ability (MASA) to predict the results of videofluoroscopic swallowing studies. Children with cerebral palsy with suspicion of aspiration were enrolled. The Functional Dysphagia Scale (FDS) was used to quantify the swallowing dysfunction in videofluoroscopic swallowing studies. Correlation between MASA and FDS scores and differences in these two scores between aspirators and nonaspirators and between silent and overt aspirators were analyzed. Sixteen patients, level IV or V according the Gross Motor Function Classification System, were included. Thirteen patients (81.3%) had aspiration, and 9 (69.2%) were silent aspirators. The MASA scores between aspirators and nonaspirators were not different (median values of total scores, 107.0 and 94.0). The aspirators had higher FDS pharyngeal subtotal scores (P = 0.024) and slightly higher total FDS scores (P = 0.059). The differences in these two scales between silent and overt aspirators were not significant. Correlation coefficients between oral phase subtotal FDS scores and MASA subtotal scores in oral preparation, oral phase, and oral phase total were -0.713 (P < 0.05), -0.428 (P = 0.098), and -0.665 (P < 0.05), respectively. No correlation was found between the pharyngeal subtotal scores in these two scales. MASA was not useful in differentiating aspirators and nonaspirators and between silent and overt aspirators in severely disabled cerebral palsy, but it could predict oral dysfunction in videofluoroscopic swallowing studies.

Brain regions involved in swallowing: Evidence from stroke patients in a cross-sectional study.

Background:Limited data available about the mechanisms of dysphagia and areas involving swallow after brain damage; accordingly it is hard to predict which cases are more likely to develop swallowing dysfunction based on the neuroimaging. The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between brain lesions and dysphagia in a sample of acute conscious stroke patients.Materials and Methods:In a cross-sectional study, 113 acute conscious stroke patients (69 male mean [standard deviation (SD)] age 64.37 [15.1]), participated in this study. Two neurologists and one radiologist localized brain lesions according to neuroimaging of the patients. Swallowing functions were assessed clinically by an expert speech pathologist with the Mann Assessment of Swallowing Ability (MASA). The association of brain region and swallowing problem was statistically evaluated using Chi-square test.Results:Mean (SD) MASA score for the dysphagic patients was 139.61 (29.77). Swallowing problem was significantly more prevalent in the right primary sensory (P = 0.03), right insula (P = 0.005), and right internal capsule (P = 0.05).Conclusion:It may be concluded from these findings that the right hemisphere lesions associated with occurring dysphagia. Further studies using more advanced diagnostic tools on big samples particularly in a perspective structure are needed.

Abstract 62: Recovery-based Prediction of Who Is Using a G-tube at 6 Weeks Post-stroke

Background: Decision-making regarding gastrostomy tube (G-tube) placement prolongs hospital stay in the inpatient stroke setting. Studies have predicted who receives G-tube placement at discharge, but have not assessed which factors predict who is actually using a G-tube long-term by assessing dysphagia recovery and G-tube needs in follow-up. Methods: Stroke patients from an inpatient stroke service were prospectively recruited if dysphagia was identified on the clinical speech therapy dysphagia test, defined as Mann Assessment of Swallowing Ability (MASA) score &lt; 178. Variables associated with dysphagia were prospectively collected. G-tubes were placed in patients according to standard clinical practice based on speech therapy recommendations and family discussion. Follow-up included a 6 week swallowing quality of life survey (SWAL-QOL, 12 items including if a G-tube is currently being used). Univariate predictors of G-tube use at 6 weeks were assessed allowing calculation of a “G-tube Score” for prediction of who required a G-tube at 6 weeks. Score performance was measured by receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves and area under the curve (AUC). Results: Of 146 dysphagic patients (median NIHSS=15), 31% were discharged with a G-tube. Of those completing 6 week SWAL-QOL (N=61), 26% of patients who had received a G-tube, no longer needed a G-tube. Univariate predictors of needing a G-tube included: age ≥ 70 (p=0.017), NIHSS ≥ 18 (p=0.006), ICU admission (p=0.007), respiratory failure requiring intubation (p=0.001), and MASA score &lt; 110 (p&lt;0.0001). 4 and 5 point G-tube scores performed well in predicting 6 week G-tube needs (AUCs 0.88 and 0.92, respectively). The optimal cut-off for both scores, preserving sensitivity and maintaining specificity, was a score of 2 points (Fig). Conclusion: Carrying 2 of the following early factors: age ≥ 70, NIHSS ≥ 18, ICU admission, and intubation, yields a high likelihood of requiring a G-tube beyond 6 weeks post-stroke.

Effect of Stomatognathic Alignment Exercise on Temporomandibular Joint Function and Swallowing Function of Stroke Patients with Limited Mouth Opening

[Purpose] This study investigated the effects of stomatognathic alignment exercise on temporomandibular joint function and swallowing function of stroke patients presenting limited mouth opening. [Subjects] Fourteen subjects with post-stroke hemiparesis presenting limited mouth opening were randomly assigned to either the experimental group or the control group, with 7 subjects in each group. [Methods] Subjects in the experimental group participated in a stomatognathic alignment exercise program that consisted of mobility exercises of the TMJ and neck and postural correction. Main outcome measures were neck mobility, the active maximum range of mouth opening, the craniomandibular index (CMI), and the Mann assessment of swallowing ability (MASA) score. [Results] The changes in the values of the range of mouth opening, CMI, MASA, and all the parameters of neck mobility were significantly different between the groups. Furthermore, post-test values appeared to be significantly different for the range of mouth opening, the craniomandibular index, and the MASA scores between the groups (p>0.05). [Conclusion] Stomatognathic alignment exercise may improve TMJ function and swallowing function of patients with post-stroke hemiparesis.