Conceptualizing Adult Dysphagia in the United States Within the International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF)

Melani Zuckerman; Shawn Wang; Asako Kaneoka; Wendy J Coster; Rebecca Leonard; Susan E Langmore; Jessica M Pisegna

doi:10.1016/j.apmr.2023.11.013

Conceptualizing Adult Dysphagia in the United States Within the International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF)

Arch Phys Med Rehabil. 2023 Dec 10:S0003-9993(23)00695-0. doi: 10.1016/j.apmr.2023.11.013. Online ahead of print.

Authors

Melani Zuckerman¹, Shawn Wang¹, Asako Kaneoka², Wendy J Coster³, Rebecca Leonard⁴, Susan E Langmore¹, Jessica M Pisegna⁵

Affiliations

¹ Boston University Chobanian & Avedesian School of Medicine, 72 East Concord St, Boston, MA 02118, United States.
² The University of Tokyo Hospital Rehabilitation Center, Tokyo, Japan.
³ Department of Occupational Therapy, Boston University College of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences: Sargent College, 635 Commonwealth Avenue, Boston, MA 02215, United States.
⁴ University of California at Davis, Davis, CA 95616, United States.
⁵ Boston Medical Center, 800 Harrison Ave, BCD Building, 5th Floor, Boston, MA 02118, United States; Department of Speech Language Pathology, Boston University, Sargent College, 635 Commonwealth Ave, Boston, MA 02215, United States. Electronic address: Jessica.pisegna@bmc.org.

PMID: 38072229
DOI: 10.1016/j.apmr.2023.11.013

Abstract

Despite the well-documented safety concerns and effect on quality of life, there does not yet exist a wide-reaching framework that links the etiologies of swallowing disorders to the potential short- and long-term outcomes in the context of International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF). This paper introduces an expert-reviewed conceptual framework to highlight common etiologies of dysphagia as well as integrate immediate outcomes of dysphagia with long-term outcomes of dysphagia in terms of medical problems, health-related quality of life, functional effect, and psychosocial features. It also outlines the potential cyclical nature of long-term dysphagia outcomes perpetuating the original dysphagia. This framework serves to inform clinicians of important dysphagic outcomes and to bring awareness to long-term outcomes that should be monitored by health care professionals, caregivers, or people with dysphagia.