Assessing Swallowing Dysfunction Aggravation in Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease Patients Using Ultrasonic Measurements With Swallowing Movement Parameters.

Objective: To investigate the correlation between ultrasonic measurements of swallowing movement parameters and aggravation of swallowing dysfunction in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).

Methods: COPD patients with swallowing dysfunction (n = 120) and COPD patients with normal swallowing function (n = 100) treated in our hospital between January 2020 and January 2023 were included in observation and control groups, respectively. The correlation between ultrasonic measurements of swallowing movement parameters and COPD with swallowing dysfunction was analyzed. The observation group was divided into mild and severe groups according to their Gugging Swallowing Screen (GUSS) scores. The correlation between ultrasonic measurements of swallowing movement parameters and COPD exacerbation combined with swallowing dysfunction was analyzed.

Results: In the observation group, Hyoid muscle thickness, hyoid bone displacement, geniohyoid muscle movement distance, HLAS, and CSR were lower compared to the control group, negatively associated with COPD-related swallowing issues. Conversely, geniohyoid muscle movement time and minimum hyohyoid distance (NHLA) were higher in the observation group, positively correlated with COPD-related swallowing dysfunction. In COPD patients with swallowing problems, the severe group exhibited lower values for lingual muscle thickness, hyoid bone displacement, geniohyoid muscle movement distance, HLAS, and CSR compared to the mild group, while geniohyoid muscle movement time and NHLA were higher in the severe group. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves were created, indicating the promising diagnostic utility of these parameters for assessing the presence and severity of swallowing dysfunction in COPD patients.

Conclusion: The ultrasonic measurement of swallowing motion parameters can effectively assess swallowing dysfunction in COPD patients.