Prevalence of Oropharyngeal Dysphagia in Adults With Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus

Introduction Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is a metabolic disease with high prevalence and multiple complications, including diabetic neuropathy, which can interfere with the swallowing process, causing dysphagia and increased morbidity and mortality. The Eating Assessment Tool-10 (EAT-10) questionnaire is a validated and sensitive tool for the clinical screening of dysphagia in asymptomatic population. Materials and methods This is a descriptive and prospective study that included 69 patients over the age of 18 diagnosed with T2DM, with no neurological or surgical history affecting swallowing. The validated Spanish version of the EAT-10 questionnaire was administered, considering dysphagia to be a score ≥3. Demographic variables, duration of diabetes, and treatment were recorded and analyzed using inferential and descriptive statistics with a significance level of p≤0.05. Results A total of 69 patients were involved in the study, 44 (63.8%) of whom were women. The mean age was 54.7 years and the average duration of T2DM was seven years. A prevalence of dysphagia was found in 16 patients (23.2%), with no significant difference between this diagnosis and the variables of age, sex, or duration of the disease (p≤0.05). The most frequently affected items on the EAT-10 were those related to effort when swallowing and a sensation of residue in the throat. Conclusion Nearly a quarter of the patients with T2DM evaluated showed signs consistent with oropharyngeal dysphagia. The results reinforce the value of the EAT-10 as a rapid, inexpensive, and noninvasive screening tool for detecting subclinical swallowing disorders in the diabetic population.