Prevalence and Risk Factors of Oropharyngeal Dysphagia in Newly Diagnosed Head-and-Neck Cancer Patients

BACKGROUND: Head-and-neck cancer (HNC) can cause oropharyngeal dysphagia (OD). Early identification of OD in newly diagnosed HNC patients is important to better prepare patients for their cancer treatment trajectory. The aim of this study is (1) to assess the prevalence of OD in HNC patients within three weeks before the start of cancer treatment and (2) to investigate which demographic and oncological characteristics may be risk factors associated with the risk of OD at baseline. METHODS: Patients (N = 225) completed the Eating Assessment Tool-10 (EAT-10) and Short Nutritional Assessment Questionnaire (SNAQ). Logistic regression analysis was conducted to examine the association between OD versus demographic and oncological characteristics. RESULTS: A total of 21.3% (proportion 0.213; 95% CI 0.163-0.274) of the patients were at risk for OD. After correction for age, Charlson Comorbidity Index (CCI) grade, and primary tumor location, a significant association was found between advanced-stage cancer versus the risk of OD. Additionally, post hoc analysis revealed a significant association between the risk of malnutrition versus the risk of OD. CONCLUSIONS: Approximately one-fifth of all newly diagnosed HNC patients are at risk of OD, with advanced-stage cancer and malnutrition emerging as significant risk factors of OD. These findings empower health professionals toward more effective screening and management of a patient's risk profile before the start of HNC treatment.