PLOS ONE · 10 authors, 4 centres
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This nationwide retrospective cohort study of Korean adults found that the annual incidence and prevalence of dysphagia requiring medical attention increased significantly from 2006 to 2016. The presence of stroke, neurodegenerative disease, cancer, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease was strongly associated with a higher risk of developing dysphagia.
This nationwide retrospective cohort study used data from the Korean National Health Insurance Service for adults aged 20 and older from 2006 to 2016 to calculate the incidence and prevalence of dysphagia requiring medical attention. The crude annual incidence increased from 7.14 in 2006 to 15.64 in 2016, and the crude annual prevalence rose from 0.09% to 0.25% over the same period. Cox regression analysis showed that stroke (OR: 7.86), neurodegenerative disease (OR: 6.20), cancer (OR: 5.59), and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (OR: 2.94) were significant risk factors. Survival analysis indicated that mortality in the dysphagia group was 3.12 times higher than in the non-dysphagia group. The study is limited by its reliance on medical claim codes, which may exclude individuals with dysphagia who did not seek medical care, potentially leading to an underestimation of prevalence. The findings suggest a growing burden of dysphagia, particularly among the geriatric population, emphasizing the need for targeted screening and management.
