Objective: To identify clinical factors associated with dysphagia severity in patients with MSA.
Background: Dysphagia is a common and clinically important complication in multiple system atrophy (MSA), contributing to malnutrition, aspiration risk, and reduced quality of life. Although swallowing impairment is considered a manifestation of disease progression and brainstem involvement, clinical factors associated with dysphagia severity in MSA remain incompletely understood.
Method: We retrospectively analyzed 132 patients with clinically diagnosed MSA from two centers. Dysphagia severity was assessed using the Functional Oral Intake Scale (FOIS). Cross-sectional associations between clinical variables and dysphagia severity were evaluated using nonparametric statistical analyses. Clinical variables included demographic factors, disease duration, nutritional markers, autonomic parameters, and tongue pressure measurements. Nutritional status was assessed using the Controlling Nutritional Status (CONUT) score. Exploratory Kaplan–Meier analyses were performed to examine time to FOIS ≤5 in patients with available follow-up data.
Results: In cross-sectional analyses, body mass index (p = 0.035), disease duration (p = 0.004), albumin levels (p = 0.009), total cholesterol levels (p = 0.019), and nutritional status assessed by the CONUT score (p = 0.018) were significantly associated with dysphagia severity. Measures of autonomic dysfunction, including reduced blood pressure and heart rate variability, were also associated with dysphagia severity. In exploratory longitudinal analyses, reduced tongue pressure (< 20 kPa) showed a tendency toward earlier progression to FOIS ≤5, although statistical significance was not reached.
Conclusion: Dysphagia severity in MSA is associated with disease duration, nutritional status, and autonomic dysfunction. Exploratory longitudinal findings suggest that reduced tongue pressure may be related to dysphagia progression, although larger prospective studies are required.
To cite this abstract in AMA style:
N. Takahashi, G. Umemoto, J. Tsugawa, K. Kurihara, Y. Baba. Clinical Correlates of Dysphagia in Multiple System Atrophy: A Multicenter Retrospective Study [abstract]. Mov Disord. 2026; 41 (suppl 1). https://www.mdsabstracts.org/abstract/clinical-correlates-of-dysphagia-in-multiple-system-atrophy-a-multicenter-retrospective-study/. Accessed October 1, 2026.« Back to 2026 International Congress
MDS Abstracts - https://www.mdsabstracts.org/abstract/clinical-correlates-of-dysphagia-in-multiple-system-atrophy-a-multicenter-retrospective-study/