Mild dysphagia does not influence survival in ventilated amyotrophic lateral sclerosis patients.

Background: Some amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) patients on continuous non-invasive ventilation (NIV) develop dysphagia demanding a clinical decision regarding gastrostomy.

Material And Methods: We have analyzed a cohort of seventy-four ALS patients dependent on continuous NIV (>22 h/day) and without feeding tube.

Results: Three patients underwent to gastrostomy due to dysphagia progression. The other patients were categorized in two groups according to question 3 ("swallowing") of the ALSFRS-R scale: group 1 (G1), score = 4 (normal), and group 2 (G2), score = 3 or 2 (mild-moderate dysphagia). G2 included 29 (40.8%) patients. Survival was similar in G1 and G2 (p = 0.12). Disease duration (p < 0.0001) and ALSFRS-R progression rate (p = 0.008) at NIV >22 h/day were predictors for survival in G1, but not for G2. Gender, onset-region, and age at NIV >22 h/day did not influence survival.

Conclusions: Our findings are relevant when discussing gastrostomy with these patients.