Prevalence and evaluation of oropharyngeal dysphagia in patients with severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 infection in the intensive care unit

Abstract

Objective The main objective was to assess the prevalence of dysphagia in the intensive care unit in patients with coronavirus disease 2019. Methods. A cohort, observational, retrospective study was conducted of patients admitted to the intensive care unit for severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 pneumonia at the University Hospital of Rouen in France. Results Over 4 months, 58 patients were intubated and ventilated, 43 of whom were evaluated. Screening revealed post-extubation dysphagia in 62.7 per cent of patients. In univariate analysis, a significant association was found between the presence of dysphagia and: the severity of the initial pathology, the duration of intubation, the duration of curare use, the degree of muscle weakness and the severity indicated on the initial scan. At the end of intensive care unit treatment, 22 per cent of the dysphagic patients had a normal diet, 56 per cent had an adapted diet and 22 per cent still received exclusive tube feeding. Conclusion Post-extubation dysphagia is frequent and needs to be investigated.