Two‐year prevalence of dysphagia and related outcomes in head and neck cancer survivors: An updated SEER‐Medicare analysis. Issue 2 (7th December 2018)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Hutcheson, Katherine A.; Nurgalieva, Zhannat; Zhao, Hui; Gunn, Gary B.; Giordano, Sharon H.; Bhayani, Mihir K.; Lewin, Jan S.; Lewis, Carol M.
• Is Part Of: Head & neck. Volume 41:Issue 2(2019)
• Page Start: 479
• Page End: 487
• Publication Date: 2018-12-07
• Subjects: aspiration pneumonia -- dysphagia -- head and neck cancer -- SEER‐Medicare -- stricture; Head -- Diseases -- Periodicals; Neck -- Diseases -- Periodicals; Head -- Periodicals; Neck -- Periodicals; Face -- Periodicals; 617.51059
• DOI: 10.1002/hed.25412
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1043-3074

Abstract

Abstract: Background: The aim of the study was to examine prevalence of dysphagia at the population level in head and neck cancer (HNC) survivors. Methods: Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results‐Medicare claims among 16 194 patients with HNC (2002‐2011) were analyzed to estimate 2‐year prevalence of dysphagia, stricture, and aspiration pneumonia, and derive treatment‐ and site‐specific estimates. Results: Prevalence of dysphagia, stricture, pneumonia, and aspiration pneumonia was 45.3% (95% confidence interval [CI]: 44.5‐46.1), 10.2% (95% CI: 9.7‐10.7), 26.3% (95% CI: 25.6‐26.9), and 8.6% (95% CI: 8.2‐9.1), respectively. Dysphagia increased by 11.7% over the 10‐year period ( P < .001). Prevalence was highest after chemoradiation and multimodality therapy. Conclusion: Comparing to published rates using similar methodology the preceding decade (1992‐1999), prevalence of dysphagia based on claims data was similar in 2002‐2011 in this study. These results suggest persistence of dysphagia as a highly prevalent morbidity, even in the decade in which highly conformal radiotherapy and minimally invasive surgeries were popularized.