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. 2022 Jan 18;31(1):463-485.
doi: 10.1044/2021_AJSLP-21-00145. Epub 2021 Dec 10.

Effectiveness of Interventions for Dysphagia in Parkinson Disease: A Systematic Review

Pooja Gandhi  1   2 , Catriona M Steele  1   2
Affiliations

Effectiveness of Interventions for Dysphagia in Parkinson Disease: A Systematic Review

Pooja Gandhi et al. Am J Speech Lang Pathol. .

Abstract

Purpose: Dysphagia is a common sequela of Parkinson disease (PD) and is associated with malnutrition, aspiration pneumonia, and mortality. This review article synthesized evidence regarding the effectiveness of interventions for dysphagia in PD.

Method: Electronic searches were conducted in Ovid MEDLINE, Embase, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, CINAHL, and speechBITE. Of the 2,015 articles identified, 26 met eligibility criteria: interventional or observational studies with at least five or more participants evaluating dysphagia interventions in adults with PD-related dysphagia, with outcomes measured using videofluoroscopic swallowing study (VFSS), fiberoptic endoscopic evaluation of swallowing (FEES), or electromyography (EMG). Risk of bias (RoB) was evaluated using the Evidence Project tool and predetermined criteria regarding the rigor of swallowing outcome measures.

Results: Interventions were classified as follows: pharmacological (n = 11), neurostimulation (n = 8), and behavioral (n = 7). Primary outcome measures varied across studies, including swallowing timing, safety, and efficiency, and were measured using VFSS (n = 17), FEES (n = 6), and EMG (n = 4). Critical appraisal of study findings for RoB, methodological rigor, and transparency showed the majority of studies failed to adequately describe contrast media used, signal acquisition settings, and rater blinding to time point. Low certainty evidence generally suggested improved swallow timing with exercises with biofeedback and deep brain stimulation (DBS), improved safety with DBS and expiratory muscle strength training, and improved efficiency with the Lee Silverman Voice Treatment and levodopa.

Conclusions: Studies with lower RoB and greater experimental rigor showed potential benefit in improving swallowing efficiency but not safety. Further research investigating discrete changes in swallowing pathophysiology post-intervention is warranted to guide dysphagia management in PD.

Supplemental material: https://doi.org/10.23641/asha.17132162.

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Figures

Figure 1.
Figure 1.
Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses diagram showing the process followed for selecting articles for inclusion in the review. VFSS = videofluoroscopic swallowing study; FEES = fiberoptic endoscopic evaluation of swallowing; EMG = electromyography.
Figure 2.
Figure 2.
Appraisal of rigor used in instrumental measures of swallowing. Included studies are grouped by intervention type and listed in descending order of instrumental rigor.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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