Prevalence of swallow fatigue and its relationship with self reported swallowing difficulties among community dwelling older adults in the Indian population

Problem considered: Swallowing fatigue significantly impacts older adults, affecting daily activities and increasing the risk of disability. This study explored the prevalence of swallowing fatigue among healthy young, middle-aged, and older adults and its relationship with self-reported swallowing difficulties. Method: A cross-sectional study was conducted with 389 participants. The Swallowing and Eating-Related Fatigue Scale in Kannada (SERF-K) and self-reported scales (EAT-10K, DHI-K) were used. Reliability was assessed through internal consistency and test-retest reproducibility. Results: SERF-K demonstrated good internal consistency (Cronbach's α = 0.752), with individual item consistency ranging from 0.729 to 0.849. Older adults had a mean SERF-K score of 12.1, with 41.5 % reporting swallowing fatigue. A moderate correlation (r = 0.56) was observed between swallowing fatigue and self-reported difficulties. Conclusion: These findings emphasize the necessity of recognizing swallow fatigue as a crucial factor in understanding swallowing difficulties across different age groups. While older adults exhibited a higher prevalence of swallowing fatigue, the presence of this symptom in young and middle aged adults also highlights the importance of early identification and early intervention. Addressing swallowing fatigue can contribute to improving overall quality of life and reducing the risk of disability related to swallowing in the general population.