Study of oropharyngeal swallowing, motor impairment and tongue pressure in Steinert's myotonic dystrophy

• Grant number: 23/06900-5
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: September 01, 2023
• End date: November 30, 2024
• Field of knowledge: Health Sciences - Speech Therapy
• Principal Investigator: Lucia Figueiredo Mourão
• Grantee: Melissa Royo Tabossi
• Host Institution: Faculdade de Ciências Médicas (FCM). Universidade Estadual de Campinas (UNICAMP). Campinas , SP, Brazil

Abstract

Introduction: Steinert's myotonic dystrophy is a neuromuscular disease of genetic origin that affects various structures and systems, with the main symptoms being muscle weakness, myotonic phenomena and muscular dystrophy. These muscle involvements directly affect swallowing, causing dysphagia, also interfering with the proper functioning of the tongue, which is responsible for the formation and positioning of the food bolus and its transfer from the oral cavity to the pharynx. Objective: To analyze the relationship between demographic variables, clinical parameters, measures of tongue pressure and swallowing components, dysphagia severity scale and penetration/aspiration scale in patients with Steinert's myotonic dystrophy followed in an outpatient clinic at a university hospital. Method: This is a quantitative, cross-sectional, analytical and observational study that will be submitted to the Research Ethics Committee of UNICAMP. Participants will be selected aged 18 years or over, who have a diagnosis of Steinert's myotonic dystrophy being followed up at the Neuromuscular Outpatient Clinic of the Hospital de Clínicas at UNICAMP and who agree to participate in the research by signing the Informed Consent Form. Patients with other neuromuscular or structural impairment of the head and neck will be excluded. The procedures performed will be: survey of medical records of demographic data, assessment of motor impairment through the Motor Function Measure (MFM) instrument. Dysphagia risk assessment scales, the Eating Assessment Tool (EAT-10), assessment of pressure and tongue resistance measurements using the Iowa Oral Performance Instrument (IOPI) and videofluoroscopic assessment of swallowing will be applied. Expected results: It is expected to find the presence of more severe dysphagia in patients with greater motor impairment; greater severity of dysphagia in patients with more advanced ages; association between severity of dysphagia and presence of aspiration with reduction of tongue pressure in patients with Steinert's myotonic dystrophy.