Inflammatory Response and Malnutrition Based on the Global Leadership Initiative on Malnutrition: Adults and Older People With Oropharyngeal Dysphagia.

OBJECTIVE

Oropharyngeal dysphagia (OD) exerts an impact on the inflammatory response and malnutrition. We tested the association between the inflammatory response (nitric oxide metabolites, myeloperoxidase, C-reactive protein, interleukin [IL] 1β, IL-6, IL-8 and IL-10) and malnutrition using the criteria of the Global Leadership Initiative on Malnutrition (GLIM) in adults/older people with OD.

METHOD: A cross-sectional study was conducted involving 51 adults/older people with OD distributed as follows: OD group with malnutrition (n = 15) and OD group without malnutrition (n = 36). A no-dysphagia group (n = 20) was matched to the OD groups for sex/age. Swallowing function was assessed using videofluoroscopy and classified using the Dysphagia Outcome and Severity Scale (DOSS), the Laryngeal Penetration and Aspiration Scale, and the Functional Oral Intake Scale (FOIS). The Functional Independence Measure (FIM) was administered. Unadjusted and adjusted logistic regression analyses were performed.

RESULTS

The prevalence of malnutrition was 29.4% in the OD group. The FIM scale (odds ratio [OR] = 0.97, p = 0.002), Laryngeal Penetration and Aspiration Scale (OR = 1.32, p = 0.024), and FOIS (OR = 0.73, p = 0.026) were significantly associated with malnutrition. Among the inflammatory response markers, only IL-1β (OR = 1.10, p = 0.043) was associated with malnutrition in the adjusted analysis.

CONCLUSIONS

IL-1β was associated with malnutrition based on the GLIM criteria after adjustments for excess weight and neurodegenerative diseases. Higher functional dependence and impaired swallowing were associated with malnutrition.