Table 2.
Medians, ranges and statistical tests for swallowing parameters, BMI and UPDRS items
| Median (Range) | Baseline | 12m Postoperative | Friedman test (n = 14) | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Test dose of L‐dopa | Stim off | Stim on | Fr | P | ||
| Liquid—Water | ||||||
| Penetration/aspiration | 0.0 (0–4) | 0.0 (0–4) | 0.0 (0–2) | 3.00 | .22 | |
| Pharyngeal residue | 0.0 (0–1) | 0.0 (0–1) | 0.0 (0–1) | 0.25 | .88 | |
| Premature spillage | 1.0 (0–1) | 1.0 (0–1) | 1.0 (0–1) | 0.33 | .85 | |
| Solid—Biscuit | ||||||
| Penetration/aspiration | 0.0 (0–2) | 0.0 (0–2) | 0.0 (0–5) | 1.2 | .55 | |
| Pharyngeal residue | 1.0 (0–1) | 0.5 (0–1) | 0.5 (0–1) | 0.33 | .85 | |
| Premature spillage | 1.0 (0–1)* | 0.5 (0–1)* | 1.0 (0–1) | 7.75 | .02 | |
| Secretion severity scale | 0.5 (0–2) | 0.0 (0–3) | 0.0 (0–3) | 0.00 | 1.00 | |
| Wilcoxon test | Effect size | |||||
| z | P | r | ||||
| BMI (kg/m2) (n = 14) | 25.4 (18.4–38.4) | — | 26.7 (19.8–38.34) | 2.67 | .01 | .50 |
| UPDRS (0 − 4p) (n = 13) | ||||||
| Cutting food | 1.0 (0–2) | — | 0.0 (0–1) | −2.13 | .03 | −.42 |
| Sialorrhea | 0.5 (0–2) | — | 1.0 (0–2) | 1.41 | .16 | .28 |
| Swallowing | 1.0 (0–2) | — | 0.0 (0–2) | −0.38 | .71 | −.07 |
| Speech | 1.0 (0–2) | — | 2.0 (1–2) | 2.46 | .01 | .48 |
The lower the swallowing and Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale (UPDRS) scores the better the function. Body mass index (BMI) >25.0 is regarded as overweight. Figures marked in bold text show significant differences. Friedman test statistics (Fr), p‐value (p), Wilcoxon test statistics (z) and estimated effect size r = z/√(n preop + n postop).
*Significant according to Wilcoxon post‐hoc test z = −2.45, p = .01, r = −.48. r = z/√(n preop + n postop).