Research updates, preprint announcements, conference contributions, and commentary.
In 10,375 neurological inpatients (2021–2024), we show that neurogenic dysphagia independently increases hospital length of stay by 46.5% and total case costs by 28.2%, even after Bayesian adjustment for frailty, functional status, and diagnosis. A one-point FOIS improvement yields a 74.3% posterior probability of substantial cost savings in geriatric patients, rising to 84.2% at three points. Werner, Meyer, Pinho, Mall, Schulz & Schumann-Werner.
In 1,116 neurological inpatients with FEES, age correlated with impaired swallowing safety — but this relationship disappeared entirely after controlling for functional status. Serial mediation analysis showed that functional independence (Self-Care Index) mediated 82.3% of the age–dysphagia relationship, with no significant direct age effect. Maintaining functional independence, rather than age-specific interventions, may be key to preserving swallowing safety. Werner*, Schumann-Werner*, Sanchez-Garcia, Meyer, Boss, Pinho, Schulz & Bach.
Can exhaled breath predict aspiration risk? In 42 patients with Parkinson's disease and acute stroke, a 32-channel polymer sensor array discriminated safe from unsafe swallowers at 67–68% balanced accuracy (p = 0.018). Bidirectional cross-disease generalization suggests shared VOC signatures regardless of neurological etiology. A proof-of-concept that warrants larger validation.
Our narrative review with Labeit, Lapa, Lueg and colleagues provides an integrated neurogeriatric framework for understanding oropharyngeal dysphagia, connecting neurological substrates with geriatric syndromes, frailty, and clinical management across care settings.