Impact of Swallowing Assessment Using the Hyodo-Komagane Score on the Severity of Dysphagia and Medical Staff Workload.

BACKGROUND

The goal of dysphagia treatment is to ensure a safe and effective reduction in both dysphagia severity and medical staff workload.

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the correlation of the Hyodo-Komagane score with dysphagia severity and medical staff workload.

METHODS

This retrospective cohort study included 96 patients who were referred from other departments for swallowing evaluation from January to April 2021. The correlation between the Hyodo-Komagane score and dysphagia severity was assessed using the Food Intake LEVEL Scale (FILS) score, and its effect on the reduction in medical staff workload was examined using the feeding assistance level of the referred patients.

RESULTS

This study included 96 hospitalised patients, comprising 15 patients with neuromuscular diseases, eight patients with cardiovascular diseases, 12 patients with head and neck diseases (excluding otolaryngological diseases), 34 patients with internal medicine diseases and 27 patients with cerebrovascular diseases, who underwent swallowing evaluation. The FILS score and feeding assistance level significantly improved at discharge compared with that at referral. A significant correlation was observed between the FILS score and feeding assistance level. The Hyodo-Komagane score was correlated with the feeding assistance level at discharge but not at referral.

CONCLUSION

The Hyodo-Komagane score may optimise rehabilitation and reduce dysphagia severity and medical staff workload, indicating its useful effect on dysphagia severity and medical staff labour.