To determine the prevalence of dysphagia among elderly population and patients with stroke, head and neck cancer or neurodegenerative diseases in China.

Patients with stroke, head and neck cancer and neurodegenerative diseases, as well as elderly people older than 65 were selected. They were surveyed using the Sydney or Ohkuma swallowing questionnaire and evaluated using the Kubota's water swallow test and videofluoroscopic swallowing study (VFSS). The incidence of dysphagia among patients with the three diseases and elderly population was recorded, and its relationship with age, gender and economic status was also observed.

For 7000 people surveyed, 6102 met the inclusion criteria. Of all the included participants, 2363 (38.7%) were identified as having swallowing abnormalities. Dysphagia was found in 46.3% of stroke patients at the acute phase, 56.9% of stroke patients at the chronic phase, 40.8% of Alzheimer′s disease patients, 46.2% of Parkinson′s disease patients, 12.5% of multiple sclerosis patients, 50.0% of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis patients, 36.6% of nasopharyngeal cancer sufferers, 58.4% of laryngeal cancer sufferers. The prevalence of oropharyngeal dysphagia was 26.4% and 13.9% in nursing home- and community-dwelling elderly people. The average prevalence rate of deglutition disorder in the midland (55.0%) was significantly higher than the east coast (38.6%), still significantly higher than the western areas (32.5%) of China (χ²=116.2, P<0.001), representing 3 different economic development status. This study demonstrated that the prevalence of the male (40.0%) was higher than the female (36.3%). Moreover, the prevalence increased with age.

Dysphagia is of high prevalence among patients with stroke, head and neck cancers or neurodegenerative diseases, as well as the elderly in China. Its prevalence has significant correlations with age, gender and economic status.

Dysphagia; Epidemiology; Chinese economic regions; Hospital; Community; Prevalence