Table 2: Association between Presenting Symptoms and VFSS.
Odds ratio (OR) for each presenting symptom and abnormal VFSS results are shown above. No single clinical symptom predicted risk of aspiration by VFSS. However, symptoms of choking/gagging, coughing, noisy breathing, and symptoms during meals were significantly correlated with CFE results but not with the gold standard VFSS results.
| GI Symptoms | VFSS Result | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| OR for Abnormal VFSS | 95% Confidence Interval | p-value | |
| Choking/Gagging (n=150) | 1.12 | 0.71–1.78 | 0.64 |
| Reflux (n=116) | 0.79 | 0.49–1.27 | 0.32 |
| Vomiting (n=107) | 0.67 | 0.41–1.09 | 0.13 |
| Poor Feeding (n=91) | 0.77 | 0.46–1.29 | 0.35 |
| Slow Feeding (n=24) | 0.72 | 0.30–1.72 | 0.49 |
| Pulmonary Symptom | VFSS Result | ||
| OR for Abnormal VFSS | 95% Confidence Interval | p-value | |
| Coughing (n=229) | 1.31 | 0.84–2.05 | 0.25 |
| Noisy Breathing (n=102) | 1.57 | 0.91–2.69 | 0.12 |
| Congestion (n=84) | 0.77 | 0.45–1.30 | 0.33 |
| Spells (n=68) | 1.35 | 0.73–2.52 | 0.37 |
| Respiratory Distress (n=50) | 1.18 | 0.59–2.35 | 0.73 |
| Recurrent Pneumonia (n=41) | 1.88 | 0.81–4.37 | 0.19 |
| Oxygen Requirement (n=19) | 2.00 | 0.57–7.01 | 0.43 |
| Relationship to Meals | VFSS Result | ||
| OR for Abnormal VFSS | 95% Confidence Interval | p-value | |
| During Meals (n=295) | 1.38 | 0.84–2.27 | 0.24 |
| After Meals (n=119) | 0.80 | 0.50–1.29 | 0.39 |
| During and After Meals (n=84) | 0.78 | 0.46–1.32 | 0.41 |