PREVALENCE AND CHARACTERISTICS OF OROPHARYNGEAL DYSPHAGIA IN HEAD AND NECK CANCER PATIENTS IN A TERTIARY HOSPITAL IN INDONESIA

Background: Oropharyngeal dysphagia is a common concern in head and neck malignancies patients and may affect nutrition, aspiration risk, and quality of life. Oropharyngeal dysphagia may remain unrecognized in clinical practice. The aims of this study are to determine the prevalence and characteristics associated with oropharyngeal dysphagia in patients with head and neck cancers.
Method: A cross-sectional study was conducted among histopathologically confirmed head and neck cancer patients at the ORL-HNS outpatient clinic, Ngoerah Hospital, Bali, Indonesia, from April to August 2025. Demographic, oncological, and therapeutic characteristics were obtained from medical records, while oropharyngeal dysphagia was assessed using the Eating Assessment Tool-10 (EAT-10). Functional oral intake was evaluated using the Functional Oral Intake Scale (FOIS), and body mass index (BMI) was calculated from measured height and weight. Data were analyzed using cross-tabulation with the chi-square test (2×2 tables) or linear-by-linear association test (2×n tables), with p<0.05 considered statistically significant.
Result: Oropharyngeal dysphagia was identified in 41 patients (40.2%). Significant associations were found with treatment modality (p=0.001), tracheostomy (p=0.044), and FOIS (p<0.001). Dysphagia occurred in 75.0% of patients with tracheostomy and 100% of those receiving tube feeding (FOIS 1-3). No significant associations were found with sex, age, tumor location, histopathology, stage, or BMI.
Conclusion: The prevalence of oropharyngeal dysphagia is quite prevalent in head and neck cancer patients. Treatment modality, tracheostomy, and functional oral intake were significantly associated with dysphagia, highlighting the importance of routine swallowing assessment.