Effect of Oral Disuse on Swallowing Disorders in Patients with Subacute Cerebral Infarction

ZHANG Chen; QIN Titao

doi:10.16458/j.cnki.1007-0893.2025.12.005

Abstract：Objective To investigate the effect of oral apraxia on dysphagia in patients with subacute cerebral infarction.Methods A total of 130 patients with subacute cerebral infarction admited to Shangqiu Municipal Hospital from January 2020 to May 2024 were enrolled in this study.All patients underwent limb and oral apraxia test(LOAT)and videofuoroscopic swallowing study(VFSS).According to the examination results,the patients were divided into an oral loss group(34 cases,oral loss score≤45 points)and a non oral loss group(96 cases,oral loss score>45 points).Test variables include dysphagia score(VDS),oral transmission time(OTT),pharyngeal delay time(PDT),pharyngeal transmission time,penetration aspiration scale(PAS);A multivariate logistic regression analysis of these parameters was then performed to confirm the significance of oral apraxia as a clinical determinant of dysphagia after cerebral infarction.Results The mean oral apraxia scores were(47.6±5.0)and(38.4±4.1)in the oral apraxia and non-apraxia groups,respectively(P<0.05).The apraxia group had a higher proportion of delayed OTT for the 2-mL-thick liquid than the non-apraxia group(17.6%and 4.2%,respectively;P=0.013).The PAS score of the cup drinking diluted liquid group was higher than that of the non oral disuse group.Oral disuse was significantly negatively correlated with OTT scores of 2 mL concentrated solution and PAS scores of cup diluted solution(P<0.05).Conclusion The presence of oral apraxia was significantly associated wtih oral phase(thick liquid).Thus,a formal assessment of oral apraxia is needed for stroke patients with dysphagia.