Nutritional Risk in Oculopharyngeal Muscular Dystrophy: Beyond Dysphagia

Abstract

Purpose: To document the nutritional risk in adults with oculopharyngeal muscular dystrophy (OPMD) and its association with oropharyngeal dysphagia. Methods: In this cross-sectional study, 33 adults with molecular confirmation of OPMD between 50 and 75 years old were recruited from the registry of a university-affiliated neuromuscular clinic. Nutritional risk was assessed with the French version of Seniors in the Community: Risk Evaluation for Eating and Nutrition II (SCREEN II), whereas the severity of dysphagia was assessed using the French-Canadian version of the Sydney Swallow Questionnaire. Anthropometric measurements were performed with standardized procedures. Results: SCREEN II scores showed high nutritional risk for 81.8% of OPMD participants with 6 factors contributing to nutritional risk in at least 50% of the sample. Pearson’s correlational analysis showed a significant moderate relationship between dysphagia and nutritional risk (r = −0.470; P = 0.006). Conclusion: To our knowledge, this study is the first to investigate the nutritional risk of adults with OPMD. Our results indicate that individuals with OPMD may be at high nutritional risk mostly associated with swallowing difficulty, in the absence of a low body mass index. The present study highlights the need for dietary counseling in OPMD.