Category: Epidemiology
Objective: To evaluate the outcomes associated with dysphagia in hospitalized patients with Parkinson’s Disease and associated healthcare costs and utilization.
Background: Dysphagia in Parkinson’s Disease (PD) is considered a frequent and problematic complication that may increase morbidity and mortality.
Method: We performed a retrospective cohort study using the US National Inpatient Sample (NIS) data from 2004 to 2014. Data on patient demographics, length of hospital stay, inpatient costs, morbidity and mortality was retrieved. A multivariable regression analysis adjusted for demographic and comorbidity variables to derive the association of PD and dysphagia and acute care outcomes. Logistic and negative binomial regressions were used to estimate odds or incidence rate ratios for binary outcomes, and continuous outcomes, respectively.
Results: We identified 616,843 hospitalizations of individuals with PD from 2004 to 2014. Of these, 43,738 (7.09%) were coded as having dysphagia. The length of stay for PD patients with dysphagia was 44% (95% CI 1.43-1.45) longer than for PD patients without dysphagia. PD patients with dysphagia also had a higher adjusted odds of percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy placement (AOR 18.07, 95% CI 17.37-18.80), aspiration pneumonia (AOR 7.91, 95% CI 7.71-8.11), sepsis (AOR 2.08, 95% CI 2.01-2.15) and mechanical ventilation (AOR 2.19, 95% CI 2.09-2.29). Hospitalizations with a diagnosis of dysphagia had 43% higher inpatient cost per case (95% CI 1.42-1.44) as compared to hospitalizations of PD patients without dysphagia.
Conclusion: In hospitalized patients with PD, dysphagia was associated with adverse clinical outcomes, prolonged length of stay, mortality, and operational costs. Further interventions focused on early recognition and prevention of dysphagia may avoid unnecessary complications and elevated hospitalization costs in PD patients.
To cite this abstract in AMA style:
D. Di Luca, E. Mcarthur, A. Willis, R. Martino, C. Marras. Clinical and Economic Outcomes Associated with Dysphagia in Hospitalized Patients with Parkinson’s Disease [abstract]. Mov Disord. 2021; 36 (suppl 1). https://www.mdsabstracts.org/abstract/clinical-and-economic-outcomes-associated-with-dysphagia-in-hospitalized-patients-with-parkinsons-disease/. Accessed June 15, 2025.« Back to MDS Virtual Congress 2021
MDS Abstracts - https://www.mdsabstracts.org/abstract/clinical-and-economic-outcomes-associated-with-dysphagia-in-hospitalized-patients-with-parkinsons-disease/