Keiko Onogi

Delayed Pharyngeal Response in CHEW‐SWALLOW Does Not Increase Risk of Aspiration in Individuals with Stroke

To the Editor: Dysphagia after stroke is common, and the pharyngeal swallow delay is associated with risk of aspiration in drinking liquid, because the safety of swallowing is compromised. In daily meals, chewing solid food or eating solids and liquids, like soups, is usual. Chewed solid food may be transported to the pharynx (stage II transport) up to 10 seconds before swallow onset in healthy subjects, whereas chewing a mixture of solid and liquid food has the highest risk of aspiration in individuals with dysphagia. However, to the best of the knowledge of the authors of this letter, there are no reports examining pharyngeal swallow delay in chew-swallow. Thus, the aim of this study was to compare pharyngeal response time of individuals with stroke with and without aspiration in chew-swallow.

Preliminary Study on Prevalence and Associated Factors with Sarcopenia in a Geriatric Hospitalized Rehabilitation Setting

The reported prevalence of sarcopenia has shown a wide range, crucially based on the diagnostic criteria and setting. This cross-sectional study evaluated the prevalence of sarcopenia and sought to identify factors associated with sarcopenia on admission in a specialized geriatric rehabilitation setting based on the newly developed the Asian Working Group for Sarcopenia algorithm. Among 87 participants (mean age, 76.05 ± 7.57 years), 35 (40.2%) were classified as showing sarcopenia on admission. Prevalence was high, particularly among participants ≥80 years old, with tendencies toward lower body mass index, smoking habit, lower cognitive function, and greater functional impairment compared with the non-sarcopenic group. Identification of sarcopenia in elderly patients before rehabilitation and consideration of risk factors may prove helpful in achieving rehabilitation outcomes.