Dysphagia is relatively common among older population and patients with stroke, head and neck cancer or neurodegenerative diseases and can have a negative impact on their quality of life. The aim of this study was to explore the prevalence of dysphagia among these people.

The survey used three-step approach consisting of questionnaire screening (Sydney or Ohkuma Swallowing Questionnaire) and clinical evaluation (Kubota's Water Swallow Test) and instrumental assessment (videofluoroscopic swallowing study). The subjects consisted of elderly persons 65 years and older living in the communities/nursing home and three relative phenotypes of patients (stroke, head and neck cancer, neurodegenerative diseases) in the hospitals. We studied these participants whose dysphagia could be assessed by the three-step approach and compared the prevalence of deglutition disorders with age, gender and three Chinese economic regions.

A total of 6102 persons met inclusion criteria. Of all the participants, 2363 (38.7%) were identified as having swallowing abnormalities and showed increased risk of oropharyngeal dysphagia with age. Dysphagia was found 46.3% in stroke patients of acute phase, 56.9% in stroke patients of chronic phase, 40.8% in Alzheimer's disease, 46.2% in Parkinson's disease, 12.5% in Multiple Sclerosis, 50.0% in Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis, 35.5% in head/neck cancer. The prevalence of oropharyngeal dysphagia has also been calculated in older persons across different settings, with rates 26.4% in nursing home and 13.9% in community-dwelling older people. This study demonstrates that dysphagia of male is higher prevalent than female in these populations. Comparing three Chinese economic regions, the average prevalence rate of deglutition disorder in the midland (55.0%) was obviously higher than east coast (37.1%) and west (32.5%) of China.

This study demonstrates that dysphagia is highly prevalent among patients with stroke, head and neck cancer or neurodegenerative diseases and the elderly in China. The prevalence of dysphagia were significant correlations with age, gender and economic region.