Effects of Telemedicine on Dysphagia Rehabilitation in Patients Requiring Home Care: A Retrospective Study

This study investigated telemedicine as an alternative to home-visit medical care (HMC) when HMC for patients with dysphagia was suspended. This retrospective study assessed whether telemedicine reduced adverse events compared to suspending care during the initial 3 months of the coronavirus pandemic. Seventy-six HMC patients were enrolled. Those who received telemedicine formed the telemedicine group (TG), and those who declined comprised the suspended group (SG). Baseline data and adverse events, including whole-body and dysphagia-related adverse events, were analyzed using the Mann-Whitney U-test, Fisher's exact test, and binomial logistic regression. Of the 76 patients, 20 were in TG and 56 in SG. Telemedicine consultations' frequency was 1-3. Significant baseline differences occurred in the Charlson Comorbidity Index (CCI) and caregiver type. In the TG and SG, 0% and 12.5% of patients experienced whole-body adverse events and 10.0% and 33.9% had dysphagia-related adverse events, respectively. Dysphagia-related adverse events were significantly lower in TG (p = 0.046). Telemedicine was significantly associated with fewer dysphagia-related adverse events after adjusting for age, CCI, and Dysphagia Severity Scale (p = 0.040). Telemedicine effectively supplemented in-person dysphagia rehabilitation, enabling continued monitoring and reducing complications, although patient self-selection and caregiver support may have influenced outcomes.