Vocal aspects and airway protection during swallowing in Parkinson disease patients

• Grant number: 23/15370-0
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: February 01, 2024
• End date: December 31, 2024
• Field of knowledge: Health Sciences - Speech Therapy
• Principal Investigator: Lucia Figueiredo Mourão
• Grantee: Camila Vieira Marques
• Host Institution: Faculdade de Ciências Médicas (FCM). Universidade Estadual de Campinas (UNICAMP). Campinas , SP, Brazil

Abstract

Introduction: Dysphagia affects around 50% of patients with PD, being associated with serious clinical complications, such as constant aspiration pneumonia, as laryngeal sensitivity may be compromised. Although dysphagia may be present from the beginning of the disease, complaints tend to appear when the individual is in more advanced stages, whereas vocal complaints are often reported from the beginning. Therefore, it is essential to study the relationships between vocal aspects and airway protection in PD. Objective: To investigate self-perception of voice and the ability to produce high-pitched sounds in individuals with Parkinson's disease and relate it to changes in airway protection during swallowing. Method: This is a cross-sectional observational study, approved by the Research Ethics Committee in opinion number 4,799,689, CAAE: 47934521.3.0000.5404. Data will be analyzed from patients previously diagnosed with idiopathic PD, in the initial and intermediate stages of the disease, followed at the Movement Disorder Outpatient Clinic and at the Otorhinolaryngology Institute (IOU) at Unicamp and who accept to participate in the research by reading and signing the informed consent form. The procedures carried out will be: collection of data from the medical record, initial interview, application of the Vocal Symptom Scale (ESV), the Vocal Disadvantage Index (IDV-10), analysis of the high frequency emission, videofluoroscopy of swallowing, videofluoroscopic examination of swallowing based on the MBSImP protocol and analysis of the penetration/aspiration scale. Expected results: Finding changes in self-perception of voice changes, presence of difficulty in issuing high pitch, and possible relationships with changes in airway protection during swallowing. Thus, it is expected to find a relationship between the reduction of high pitch and the presence of penetration/aspiration in PD.