Table 1. Characteristics of the subjects.
| Characteristic | SRC (+) | SRC (−) | Total | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| No. of subjects | 121 (29.0) | 296 (71.0) | 417 | |
| Female sex§ | 80 (65.6) | 159 (53.7) | 239 (57.3) | |
| Age (yr) | 59 (17–84) | 56 (16–86) | 57 (16–86) | |
| Step | ||||
| I | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| II | 23 | 53 | 76 | |
| III | 28 | 64 | 92 | |
| IV | 70 | 176 | 246 | |
| V | 0 | 3 | 3 | |
| Timing of SRC | ||||
| Oral phase | 12 (9.9)† | - | ||
| Pharyngeal phase | 108 (89.3) | - | ||
| Esophageal phase | 13 (10.7)‡ | - | ||
| Severity of SRC* | ||||
| Mild | 46 (38.0) | - | ||
| Moderate | 53 (43.8) | - | ||
| Severe | 22 (18.2) | - | ||
Values are presented as number (%) or median (range).
SRC, swallowing-related cough.
*Mild SRC was defined as transient cough that allowed patients to continue eating soon after its cessation. Moderate SRC was defined as persistent cough that forced the patient to discontinue eating. Severe SRC was defied as cough inducing secondary events such as vomiting or wheezing. †Oral phase only in 8 (6.6%), oral and pharyngeal phase in 4 (3.3). ‡Esophageal phase only in 5 (4.1), esophageal and pharyngeal phase in 8 (6.6%). §p = 0.020.