Table 1.
Mean (SD) swallowing-related quality of life (SWAL-QOL) scores for the entire cohort (overall) and for safe, penetrator, and aspirator ALS swallowing groups
| SWAL-QOL Domain |
Overall Mean (SD) |
Safe Mean (SD) |
Penetrator Mean (SD) |
Aspirators Mean (SD) |
p value |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SWAL-QOL | 75.9 (19.4) | 81.2 (15.6) | 77.0 (15.6) | 58.7 (22.9) | p < .001 |
| Fatigue | 59.5 (21.6) | 90.7 (22.7) | 77.6 (18.9) | 66.9 (16.5) | p < 0.001a, 0.013c |
| Eating duration | 67.7 (31.3) | 89.7 (27.2) | 82.5 (28.1) | 68.5 (31.7) | p < 0.001a |
| Communication | 67.9 (28.7) | 77.0 (27.1) | 72.4 (24,8) | 45.4 (24.3) | p < 0.001a, 0.006b |
| Sleep | 69.9 (27.5) | 89.0 (27.5) | 83.8 (22.9) | 68.9 (29.8) | p < 0.003a, 0.049b |
| Fear | 75.7 (25.4) | 76.9 (22.9) | 68.6 (16.2) | 52.7 (29.9) | p < 0.003a |
| Mental | 77.1 (29.3) | 83.9 (25.4) | 77.6 (23.5) | 55.3 (33.1) | p < 0.001a, 0.005b |
| Social | 79.8 (26.8) | 85.4 (24.7) | 79.8 (20.7) | 57.9 (28.7) | p < 0.001a, 0.017b |
| Burden | 81.6 (21.9) | 87.4 (15.7) | 81.9 (21.4) | 64.8 (25.9) | p < 0.003a, 0.042b |
| Food selection | 81.8 (24.6) | 69.0 (20.5) | 80.5 (21.6) | 59.5 (27.2) | p < 0.023a |
| Eating desire | 82.1 (23.6) | 60.9 (18.7) | 65.7 (17.4) | 47.6 (32.5) | p < 0.034a, 0.012b |
| Symptoms | 79.5 (19.2) | 86.5 (11.9) | 77.4 (14.6) | 61.5 (27.5) | p < 0.001a, 0.003b, 0.025c |
a
Significant difference between safe swallowers and aspirators (p < 0.05)
b
Significant difference between penetrator and aspirator airway safety groups (p < 0.05)
c
Significant difference between safe swallowers and penetrators (p < 0.05)