DMD: swallowing-related quality of life deteriorates over time

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An Italian study of 48 men with Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD), 26 aged under 30 and 22 aged 30 or over, showed that:

  • swallowing-related quality of life, assessed by the SWAL-QOL self-questionnaire, was significantly impaired (composite score ≤ 86 ) in 33 patients ;
  • signs of dysautonomia, assessed by the Compass 31 questionnaire, were moderate, while functional impairment of the upper limbs measured by the Brooke scale was severe (mean score 5.4±0.5);
  • swallowing-related quality of life was correlated with maximum inspiratory pressure and Compass 31 score;
  • the SWAL-QOL score was 64.5±19.2 in the over-30s versus 76.6±16.3 in the younger age groups.

 

Age Related Burden of Swallowing in Adult Patients Affected by Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy. Crescimanno G, Greco F, Bertini M et al. J Neuromuscul Dis. 2023 May 16.

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