Quality-of-life self-assessment, risk of dysphagia, and swallowing disorders in COVID-19 inpatients

ABSTRACT Purpose: to identify the impact of swallowing changes and dysphagia complaints on quality-of-life and eating self-assessments of COVID-19 inpatients. Methods: the study comprised 54 COVID-19 inpatients above 18 years old, whose swallowing was clinically assessed by a speech-language-hearing therapist. They were classified regarding food intake (with the FOIS scale) and degree of dysphagia. They also filled out a sample characterization questionnaire and the SWAL-QOL and EAT-10 protocols. Results: the respiratory condition led to worse quality-of-life self-assessment Fatigue results, oral food intake and dysphagia severity classifications. Females had worse quality-of-life self-assessment Burden and Food selection scores. Swallowing complaints were associated with worse eating self-assessments. Patients at risk of dysphagia had worse quality-of-life self-assessments in five out of the 11 domains, worse oral food intake levels, and worse dysphagia severity. Conclusion: COVID-19 inpatients commonly have swallowing complaints and are at risk of dysphagia, with worse quality-of-life self-assessment, lower oral food intake classification, and worse dysphagia severity rating.