J Korean Dysphagia Soc.  2023 Jan;13(1):15-23. 10.34160/jkds.2023.13.1.003.

Fluid Thickeners in Patients with Mild Dysphagia

• Jeong YG
• Moon HI

• KMID: 2539462
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.34160/jkds.2023.13.1.003

Abstract

Objective
To compare the changes in blood urea nitrogen/creatinine (BUN/Cr) ratio, a dehydration status indicator, among patients with mild dysphagia depending on the addition of fluid thickeners.
Methods
A total of 81 patients who underwent serial dietary trials of the videofluoroscopic swallowing study (VFSS) and displayed penetration signs with a penetration-aspiration scale of 4 or less during the liquid trials were enrolled and classified into two groups according to the dietary instructions from the VFSS results. Group A comprised patients who were permitted to freely consume water with a regular diet. Group B comprised patients allowed to take a regular diet but with the addition of a fluid thickener while ingesting water. To analyze whether the patients of each group were dehydrated, we calculated the serum BUN/Cr ratio using blood tests, which were performed within 1 week of the VFSS test date and 1 month later.
Results
There were 4 cases of suspected pneumonia within 1 month after the VFSS test, with no significant differences between the two groups. The BUN/Cr ratio of the 1-month follow-up blood test when compared to the initial blood test showed a significant decrease in Group A (P=0.022) compared with Group B (P=0.033).
Conclusion
Patients with mild dysphagia who consumed water freely showed a decrease in the BUN/Cr ratio compared to those who added fluid thickeners to their drinking water.

Keyword

Deglutition disorders; Dehydration; Pneumonia; Aspiration