UK Stroke Supplement: 001 – High Scoring Oral Presentation – Swallowing and Nutrition: SWALLOWING THERAPY FOR DYSPHAGIA IN ACUTE AND SUB-ACUTE STROKE (COCHRANE SYSTEMATIC REVIEW)

Abstract

IntroductionSwallowing difficulties (oropharyngeal dysphagia (OD)) are common post-stroke but there is no specific guidance on treatment. We have updated the 2018 Cochrane review of dysphagia interventions to explore whether there is evidence of a significant benefit from OD interventions on swallowing impairment.MethodsRCT?s of patients with a new onset of OD after stroke published before January 2021 were included. Results were screened and analysed by two independent researchers. Trials were divided to specific intervention types and data was analysed against 8 outcomes, the primary outcome being swallowing impairment (SI).Results83 additional trials were analysed producing a review to a total of 129 trials. Three interventions were associated with reductions in outcomes: Acupuncture: SI (SMD ?0.94 [95% CI?1.25,?0.63], p?