Table 3:

Outcomes for patients with high versus low scores for MDASI for swallow, choke, and shortness of breath.

		Totals (% of total)	Local failure	Regional failure	Distant failure	Deaths	Deaths related to progression or recurrence
Swallowing	High	52	4 (7.7%)	4 (7.7%)	4 (7.7%)	6 (11.5%)	4 (7.7%)
	Low	418	2 (0.5%)	17 (4.1%)	19 (4.5%)	6 (1.4%)	3 (0.7%)
	p-value		0.002	0.273	0.305	0.001	0.004
Choke	High	26	2 (7.7%)	2 (7.7%)	4 (15.4%)	4 (15.4%)	3 (11.5%)
	Low	444	4 (0.9%)	19 (4.3%)	19 (4.3%)	8 (1.8%)	4 (0.9%)
	p-value		0.039	0.326	0.027	0.003	0.005
Shortness of breath	High	44	2 (4.5%)	3 (6.8%)	6 (13.6%)	4 (9.1%)	3 (6.8%)
	Low	426	4 (0.9%)	18 (4.2%)	17 (4.0%)	8 (1.9%)	4 (0.9%)
	p-value		0.101	0.434	0.014	0.019	0.021
Composite variable	High	8	1 (12.5%)	1 (12.5%)	2 (25%)	3 (37.5%)	2 (25%)
	Low	462	5 (1.1%)	20 (4.3%)	21 (4.5%)	9 (1.9%)	5 (1.1%)
	p-value		0.098	0.308	0.054	0.001	0.005

Thresholds for “high” versus “low” MDASI score categories stated: “high” for swallow is a score≥6; for choke, a score≥6; and for shortness of breath, a score≥2. For the composite variable “high” is denoted as having “high” scores for all three symptoms, versus “low” denoting “high” scores for two or fewer symptoms. P-values obtained using Fisher’s exact test.