Dysphagia: causes, diagnosis and treatment – an update for practice nurses

Abstract

The number of people with dysphagia is rising in line with population ageing. It is now thought to affect around 5.2 million people in the UK, one adult in 8 ( Boaden et. al, 2019 ). It becomes more common as people age and is associated with neurological problems, frailty and poor outcomes ( Patel et. al, 2018 : Cohen et. al, 2021 ). This article aims to update practice nurses on the clinical features of dysphagia, how to identify it, when to refer and how it is managed. As many as one adults in eight in the UK are affected by dysphagia. Linda Nazarko looks at what nurses need to know when managing this condition.