ibs.GRANADA researchers discover key drivers of dysphagia in head and neck cancer survivors

May 23, 2024

This study published in the journal International Maintenance therapy for cancer, This is part of a wider project which aims to implement a proposal for multimodal rehabilitation together with health education to improve the quality of life and oral health of these patients.

Researchers from the group A02-Cuídate: Cancer Treatment and Advances in Sports Medicine of the Biosanitary Research Institute of Granada (ibs.GRANADA) and the University of Granada have identified some factors that influence the degree of dysphagia suffered by diagnosed patients. for head and neck cancer. Dysphagia, or difficulty swallowing, is a common symptom in survivors of this type of cancer following cancer treatment and poses a significant risk of complications that can significantly impact their overall health and well-being.

A sample of 62 head and neck cancer survivors to analyze both the prevalence of dysphagia and the factors that may influence the presence of these effects. In addition to dysphagia scores, other sociodemographic and clinical variables such as cough, sticky saliva, range of oral mobility, sleep hygiene, perceived physical function, and muscle mass were examined to determine which factors best explained the degree of dysphagia in these patients. . Patients.

A study conducted on patients recruited from the radiation oncology services of the Virgen de las Nieves University Hospital and San Cecilio University Hospital (Granada, Spain) between 2018 and 2022 showed that the vast majority of patients had dysphagia , evaluated verified questionnaire. Main results showed that about half of the variability in dysphagia could be explained by factors such as cough, limited oral mobility and poor sleep quality, with oral mobility being the most limiting factor.

These results highlight the importance of early and appropriate recognition of these symptoms, as well as a comprehensive treatment strategy to address sequelae in survivors of head and neck cancer. Dr Noelia Gagliano, Group Investigator of A02-Cuídate: Cancer Treatment and Advances in Sports Medicine and leader of this study, commented: “Identifying these factors associated with dysphagia is critical to help healthcare providers better identify and monitor. especially in high-risk patients.”

About the research groups

Research group A02-Take care of yourself: cancer treatment and advances in sports medicine ibs.GRANADA is interdisciplinary and its main goal is to describe the evidence for the effectiveness of physiotherapy and nursing care in the treatment of chronic pain and other changes caused by cancer treatment. They have a small laboratory equipped with FEDER facilities that is part of the University’s Joint Institute of Sport and Health, which is a reference for several international groups regarding the immune and hormonal response to chronic pain.

More information about the group: https://www.ibsgranada.es/grupos-de-investigacion/a02-cuidate-cuidados-oncologia/.

Research group A06-Clinical Oncology and Liquid Biopsy ibs.GRANADA, led by José Exposito and co-director Maria José Serrano, maintains stable connections with groups in the region, regionally and nationally. Its goal is to integrate clinical and basic knowledge into useful recommendations for patients and for evaluating health care services. His areas of research include circulating and diverse tumor cells, diet, exercise and cancer, outcome assessment in cancer, response modification with mesenchymal cells, single and fractionated dose radiosurgery, modified regimen radiotherapy (breast, lung, etc.), and variability in oncology practice (radiation therapy).

More information about the group at https://www.ibsgranada.es/grupos-de-investigacion/a06-oncologia-clinica-biopsia-liquida/.

Group TECE20-Rehabilita-T: Advances and innovations in the field of rehabilitation and health promotion from ibs.GRANADA works in three research areas: telerehabilitation, functional assessment in rehabilitation, and social and medical assistance for carers of dependent patients. We believe that these areas are particularly relevant in the field of physical medicine and rehabilitation, allowing for the development of various projects that can have a direct impact on daily clinical activities. This will improve patient care and, as a result, improve the quality of healthcare.

More information about the group at https://www.ibsgranada.es/grupos-de-investigacion/tece20-rehabilita-t/.

Bibliographic link:

Lopez-Fernandez, M.D., Fernandez-Lao, C., Ruiz-Martinez, A.M., Fernandez-Gualda, M.A., Lozano-Lozano, M., Ortiz-Comino, L., and Gagliano- Castillo, N. (2024). Exploring predictors of dysphagia in head and neck cancer survivors: A cross-sectional study. In Cancer Maintenance Therapy (Vol. 32, Issue 3). Springer Science and Business Media LLC. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00520-024-08358-w