Clinical Characteristics of Dysphagia in Adults: A Five-Year Retrospective Analysis at Hospital Pakar Universiti Sains Malaysia

Dysphagia, a swallowing disorder affecting oral, pharyngeal and oesophageal phases, requires effective treatment. The rising incidence of dysphagia each year highlights the need for more research in Malaysia. This study investigated its prevalence and characteristics among adult patients at the Speech Pathology Clinic, Hospital Pakar Universiti Sains Malaysia (HPUSM). Medical records of 125 patients aged >≥18, diagnosed with dysphagia between 2018 and 2023, were retrospectively analysed. Data on demographics, diagnosis methods, feeding types and dysphagia characteristics were collected. Logistic regression analyses determined associations between dysphagia types and socio-demographic factors. Dysphagia prevalence was 5.5%, predominantly affecting Malay patients aged ≥61, with a slight male predominance. Common medical histories included gastrointestinal diseases and was followed by stroke. The primary assessment method was fiberoptic endoscopic evaluation of swallowing (FEES) (61.6%). Oesophageal dysphagia was most prevalent (51%), followed by oropharyngeal dysphagia (28.8%). Issues included coughing while swallowing, weight loss, limited tongue mobility and aspiration. Oral feeding with diet modification and nasogastric tube feeding were common interventions. Age >≥61 years (OR = 6.016, 95% CI: 2.189, 16.531, p = 0.001) and referral sources (OR = 0.111, 95% CI: 0.029, 0.419, p = 0.001) significantly predicted dysphagia types. Dysphagia is a significant health issue among adults, particularly older individuals, necessitating focused management strategies and ongoing research in Malaysia.