Introduction: For older adults, dysphagia is a serious problem that can occur after spinal cord injury (SCI), but its risk factors are unclear. This study aimed to identify risk factors for dysphagia in elderly patients (≥65 years) with cervical SCI.
Methods: This multicenter study included 707 patients with cervical SCI (mean age 75.3 years). Univariate and multivariate analyses were conducted for patient characteristics and geriatric nutritional risk index (GNRI).
Results: Dysphagia occurred in 69 patients (9.8%). The significant factors were as follows: male sex (odds ratio [OR] 3.43), GNRI <92 (1.83), dementia (2.94), fracture (3.40), complete paralysis (3.61), anterior surgery (3.74), and tracheostomy (17.06). Age was not identified as a risk factor.
Conclusions: Low GNRI before injury was one of the independent risk factors for dysphagia after geriatric cervical SCI. GNRI represents the comprehensive nutritional status of the elderly and reflects feeding function and its recovery capacity.
Keywords: cervical spinal cord injury; dysphagia; elderly patients; frailty index; geriatric nutritional risk index.
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