Dysphagia in the elderly

Abstract

Oropharyngeal dysphagia is defined as the difficulty for the passage of the food bolus from the mouth to the lower esophagus. It is considered a new common geriatric syndrome in the elderly population. Its prevalence increases with age and poses special problems in this group of patients, compromising nutritional status, increasing the risk of pneumonia of aspirational etiology, and affecting quality of life. It has come to be described as a new geriatric syndrome and an emerging pandemic, which is why it is considered one of the main challenges of geriatric medicine. Within this thematic review we will try to define oropharyngeal dysphagia in the elderly, classification, pathophysiology, and treatment, as well as its presentation in special conditions such as dementia.