Oropharyngeal dysphagia is a prevalent risk factor for malnutrition in a cohort of older patients admitted with an acute disease to a general hospital.

Background & Aims: Oropharyngeal dysphagia and malnutrition are prevalent conditions in the older. The aim of this study was to explore the relationship between oropharyngeal dysphagia, nutritional status and clinical outcome in older patients admitted to an acute geriatric unit.

Methods: We studied 1662 patients ≥70 years consecutively hospitalized with acute diseases, in whom dysphagia could be clinically assessed by the volume-viscosity swallow test and nutritional status with the Mini Nutritional Assessment(®).