Table 1.

Comparison of the patients with dysphagia and the patients without dysphagia after head and neck treatment. Only the significant results are presented

Parameter	No Dysphagia	Dysphagia	P-Value
	N = 64	N = 45
Swallowing vs. non-swallowing area
Oral cavity, oropharynx,
hypopharynx, larynx (N= 84)	45 (70.3%)	39 (86.7%)	0.046
Nasal cavity, paranasal sinuses,
nasopharynx, metastases (N = 25)	19 (29.7%)	6 (13.3%)
TNM stage*
Stages I-III	41 (64.1%)	17 (37.8%)	0.005
Stages IV	17 (26.6%)	23 (51.1%)
Treatment modalities
Surgery	19 (29.7%)	3 (6.7%)
RT or concurrent RT-CT	15 (23.4%)	11 ((24.4%)
Surgery + RT or RT-CT	30 (46.9%)	31 (57.4%)	0.010
Role of RT
RT included in treatment	45 (70.3%)	42 (93.3%)	0.002
Therapy completed
Less than 2 years ago	15 (23.4%)	21 (46.7%)	0.014
Two years or more ago	49 (76.6%)	24 (53.3%)
Oral problems
Mucosa irritability	23 (35.9%)	28 (62.2%)	0.007
Mouth wide opening	5 (7.8%)	15 (33.3%)	0.001
Thick and sticky saliva	35 (54.7%)	38 (84.4%)	0.001
Problems with chewing	4 (6.3%)	16 (35.6%)	0.000
Problems with
Feeding	5 (7.8%)	35 (77.8%)	0.000
Feeding in the presence of family	3 (4.7%)	28 (62.2%)	0.000
Feeding in the public	7 (10.9%)	36 (80%)	0.000
Enjoying food	3 (4.7%)	17 (37.7%)	0.000
Avoiding public areas	18 (28.1%)	34 (75.6%)	0.020
Loss of smell	7 (10.9%)	15 (33.3%)	0.004
Impaired taste	18 (28.1%)	34 (75.6%)	0.000
Acid reflux and heartburn	18 (28.1%)	22 (48.9%)	0.027
Pain
Oral pain	4 (6.3%)	14 (31.1%)	0.001
Throat pain	12 (18.8%)	18 (40%)	0.014
Persistent coughing	30 (46.9%)	38 (84.4%)	0.000
History of recurrent pneumonia	2 (3.1%)	7 (15.6%)	0.031
Presence of hoarseness	25 (39.1%)	28 (62.2%)	0.017
Loss of weight	17 (26.6%)	24 (53.3%)	0.005
Use of nutritional supplements	6 (9.3%)	16 (35.6%)	0.001

^*The data on tumor stage was accessible only for 95 patients; CT = chemotherapy; RT = radiotherapy; SD = standard deviation