Dysphagia After Prolonged Intubation in SARS-CoV-19 Patients: A Single Institution Retrospective Review

Objective: To determine the impact of various factors on swallowing in SARS-CoV-19 patients after prolonged intubation. Methods: A retrospective chart review of SARS-CoV-19 patients intubated between February 2020 and March 2021 was performed. Independent variables, including duration and factors of intubation, and patient demographic characteristics were analyzed. Formal swallow studies were performed for patients who failed a screening swallow evaluation. Results: Seventy-three individuals of 308 patients reviewed had a dysphagia score of ≤5. A total of 49% of patients’ dysphagia resolved prior to discharge, with a median of eight days between extubation and the last evaluation. The median duration of intubation was 11 days. Increasing age, congestive heart failure, cerebrovascular disease, and hypertension were associated with dysphagia at the first and/or last evaluation. Hispanic ethnicity was associated with a decreased risk of dysphagia (all p<0.05). Conclusions: Although various patient factors including age and congestive heart failure were associated with the development of dysphagia after prolonged intubation, the length of intubation was not.