BackgroundIncreasing viscosity with thickening agents is a valid therapeutic strategy for oropharyngeal dysphagia (OD). To assess the therapeutic effect of a xanthan gum‐based thickener (Nutilis Clear®) at six viscosities compared with thin liquid in poststroke OD (PSOD) patients.MethodsA total of 120 patients with PSOD were studied in this controlled, multiple‐dose, fixed‐order, and single‐blind study using videofluoroscopy (VFSS). A series of boluses of 10 mL thin liquid and 2000, 1400, 800, 450, 250, and 150 mPa s viscosities were given in duplicate, interrupted in case of aspiration. We assessed the safety and efficacy of swallow and the kinematics of the swallow response.Key ResultsA total of 41.2% patients had safe swallow at thin liquid which significantly increased for all viscosities from 71.9% at 150 mPa s to 95.6% at 1400 mPa s (P < .001). PAS score (3.7 ± 2.3) at thin liquid was also reduced by increasing bolus viscosity (P < .001). The prevalence of patients with aspiration at thin liquid was 17.5% and decreased at all viscosities (P < .01), except at 150 mPa s. Increasing viscosity shortened time to laryngeal vestibule closure (LVC) at all viscosities (P < .01) and reduced bolus velocity at ≥450 mPa s (P < .05). The prevalence of patients with pharyngeal residue at each viscosity 37.7%‐44.7% was similar to that at thin liquid (41.2%).Conclusions and InferencesThe prevalence of unsafe swallow with thin liquids is very high in PSOD. Increasing shear bolus viscosity with this xanthan gum‐based thickener significantly increased the safety of swallow in patients with PSOD in a viscosity‐dependent manner without increasing the prevalence of pharyngeal residue.

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BackgroundMalnutrition is common after stroke and can affect rehabilitation and healthcare costs. A comprehensive overview of stroke patients' nutritional condition from the hyperacute to the chronic phase is lacking. This systematic review aimed to investigate the prevalence of impaired nutritional condition (INC) across the continuum of care in specific phases after stroke.MethodsCAB ABSTRACTS, Embase, MEDLINE, were used to collect studies published between 01-01-1999 and 26-08-2020. Primary and secondary outcomes were prevalence of INC and prevalence of malnutrition, respectively. Exploratory outcomes were prevalence of INC at follow-up, nutritional examination methods, prevalence of dysphagia, stroke severity, adverse events, and continent-specific prevalence of INC. A random-effects meta-analysis model was used to estimate the phase-specific pooled prevalence of INC and malnutrition.ResultsThe dataset consisted of 78 study groups selected over a total of 1,244 identified records. The pooled prevalence of INC and malnutrition were 19% (95%CI:7–31) (N = 4) and 19% (95%CI:9–29) (N = 3), 34% (95%CI:25–43) (N = 34) and 26% (95%CI:18–35) (N = 29), 52% (95%CI:43–61) (N = 34) and 37% (95%CI:28–45) (N = 31), 21% (95%CI:12–31) (N = 3) and 11% (95%CI:0–24) (N = 3) and 72% (95%CI:41–100) (N = 3) and 30% (95%CI:0–76) (N = 2) in the hyperacute, acute, early subacute, late subacute, and chronic phase, respectively.ConclusionINC and malnutrition are highly prevalent in all stages of stroke care. Since malnutrition has been shown to negatively affect clinical outcomes, mortality, and overall healthcare expenditure in stroke survivors, it is essential to examine and monitor the nutritional status of stroke patients throughout their care journey to guide and plan, timely nutritional support and dietary modification.

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