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Scientific Oral Presentations

Laryngology/Broncho-Esophagology

Session: Scientific Oral Presentations 1 - Laryngology/Broncho-Esophagology

The Association of Dysphagia With Social Isolation and Cognition in Older Adults

Saturday, September 28, 2024
10:06 AM – 10:12 AM EDT
Location: MBCC, 224
Disclosure(s):
Elliot C. Morse, MD, MHS:

faculty for this accredited education activity has no relationship(s) with ineligible companies to disclose.

Lauren H. Tucker, BA:

faculty for this accredited education activity has no relationship(s) with ineligible companies to disclose.

Maggie Barilka, MS, CCC-SLP:

faculty for this accredited education activity has no relationship(s) with ineligible companies to disclose.

Justin S. Golub, MD, MS:

faculty for this accredited education activity has no relationship(s) with ineligible companies to disclose.

Introduction: The impact of dysphagia on quality of life is receiving increasing focus. Prior studies have associated dysphagia with decreased frequency of going out, anxiety, and depression. Given the importance of food in socialization, we hypothesized that dysphagia may contribute to social isolation. Because social isolation may be related to decreased cognition, we also hypothesized that dysphagia may contribute to decreased cognition.

Methods: We used the 1999-2000 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, a cross-sectional database of United States citizens including interviews, physical exams, physiologic data, and questionnaires. We identified adults aged 65 and older. We used linear and logistic regression to examine the association between (a) social isolation (need for more emotional support, number of close friends) and (b) cognition (digit symbol substitution test) among those with and without self-reported dysphagia. We controlled for relevant medical and socioeconomic covariates.

Results: We included 445 adults with a mean age of 74.9 (SD: 65-86). Of them, 50 had (11.2%) self-reported dysphagia, defined as difficulty in swallowing foods or requiring liquids to aid in swallowing. Those with dysphagia had 2.92 times the odds (95% CI: 1.35-6.07, p = 0.005) of reporting a need for more emotional support, but no significant difference in the number of close friends (coefficient 0.45 [95% CI 0.03-7.5], p = 0.577). Dysphagia was not associated with cognition (p ≥ 0.05).

Conclusions: Older adults with dysphagia report an increased need for emotional support despite no difference in number of close friends. Future studies should further characterize how dysphagia is related to socialization as well as downstream consequences.

    Presenting Author(s)

  • Elliot C. Morse, MD, MHS

    Otolaryngology Resident
    New York Presbyterian Hospital
    New York, New York, United States

    Disclosure(s):

    faculty for this accredited education activity has no relationship(s) with ineligible companies to disclose.

    • Co-Author(s)

  • LT

    Lauren H. Tucker, BA

    Medical Student
    Columbia University Valegos College of Physicians and Surgeons
    New York, New York, United States

    Disclosure(s):

    faculty for this accredited education activity has no relationship(s) with ineligible companies to disclose.

  • Maggie Barilka, MS, CCC-SLP

    Speech Language Pathologist
    New York Presbyterian Hospital
    New York, NY, United States

    Disclosure(s):

    faculty for this accredited education activity has no relationship(s) with ineligible companies to disclose.

  • Justin S. Golub, MD, MS

    Associate Professor
    Columbia University
    New York, New York, United States

    Disclosure(s):

    faculty for this accredited education activity has no relationship(s) with ineligible companies to disclose.

    • Senior Author(s)

  • Hayley L. Born, MD, MS

    Assistant Professor
    Department of Otolaryngology—Head and Neck Surgery, Columbia University Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons and Columbia University Irving Medical Center/NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital
    New York, NY, United States

    Disclosure information not submitted.