The significance of aerodynamic measures and pulse oximetry in identifying the risk for aspiration in adult dysphagia

The purpose of this study is to determine the significance of relative percentage changes in aerodynamic and pulse oximetry measures in identifying aspiration or the risk for aspiration in adults with dysphagia. Aerodynamic and pulse oximetry measures are easy to use, noninvasive, radiation-free procedures and may be included by clinicians as part of the dysphagia assessment procedure to identify aspiration or the risk for aspiration. Sixty participants, both males and females, between the ages of 21 to 100 years, were selected to participate in this study. Participants were divided into two groups. Thirty participants without dysphagia constituted the control group; thirty participants with a diagnosis of dysphagia constituted the study group.; Aerodynamic measures involving relative percentage changes in maximum sustained phonation, mean flow rate and vital capacity, and pulse oximetry measures involving relative percentage changes in average pulse, highest pulse, lowest pulse, average oxygen saturation levels, highest oxygen saturation levels and lowest oxygen saturation levels, were obtained for all sixty participants before and during/after oral intake. Multivariate analysis of variance and follow up univariate analysis of variance revealed statistically significant differences in relative percentage changes between participants with and without dysphagia for the aerodynamic measure involving maximum sustained phonation, and for pulse oximetry measures involving average and highest pulse rates.; Results of this study suggest that relative percentage changes in maximum sustained phonation, and relative percentage changes in average and highest pulse rates, might be useful in identifying participants with dysphagia with aspiration or the risk for aspiration. The present study only establishes the clinical potential of these tools in detecting aspiration or the risk for aspiration. Further studies with larger sample sizes and varied test conditions are needed to establish the clinical applicability of these test tools in dysphagia assessment and management.