An observational study in Dysphagia, Dysphonia and Subglottic Stenosis, sponsored by Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust. Completed at 1 site in United Kingdom. Open to participants aged 18 Years to 85 Years. Per ClinicalTrials.gov, last updated 2025-06-29.
Sponsored by Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust · Observational
This study examines the presence, severity and natural history of dysphagia and dysphonia in the post-extubation and severely unwell COVID-19 patient.
Patients identified with dysphagia and dysphonia secondary to COVID19 infection. Specifically severely unwell patients and post-extubation patients.
Exclusion Criteria:
This is the use of endoscopy during feeding trials. The patient is fed different consistencies of food and drink while an endoscope is in place (usually passed through the nasal passage and down into the throat). The endoscope provides a bird's eye view to the transit of food through the upper aero-digestive tract. This provides information from the point of food bolus formation in the mouth to the movement of the base of the tongue; the movement of pharyngeal muscles; the deflection of the epiglottis to protect the airway including the closure of the vocal cords and the passage of food into the oesophagus. Any abnormality in these steps are noted during FEES. Liquids, thickened fluids, semi-solids and solids are some of the food textures that are tested.
A radio opaque dye is used to label the test food and drink items offered to the patient. Following this, x-ray technology is used to create a video of the outline of the patient and the structures responsible for chewing and swallowing as they injest the test materials. The study is carried out in real time in the radiology department in conjunction with a radiographer and an SLT.
This is a 25-item questionnaire assessing three domains: physical (9 items), functional (9 items), and emotional aspects (7 items) of the Quality of Life (QOL) in patients suffering with dysphagia. For each statement the patient checks if it applies to him/her all the time, some of the time or never. The suggested scores are 0, 2 and 4, respectively. Using this scoring system amounts to a DHI score range of 0 - 100. The higher the score, the worse the dysphagia related QOL. The patient is also asked to provide a rating of their own impression of the severity of the dysphagia experienced on a scale from 1 (normal) to 7 (severe problem).
This is a 30-item validated quality of life tool that is also a self-reporting tool. It appraises the impact of the patient's abnormal voice from an emotional perspective, related physical symptoms and stratifies the impairment itself in context of day to day activities. VoiSS is currently the most psychometrically robust voice outcome measure. Each item is scored 0 - 4 on the frequency responses: never, occasionally, some of the time, most of the time, always. The total score of 120 measures general voice pathology which is made up of Impairment = maximum score of 60; Emotional = maximum score of 32; Physical = maximum score of 28.
Primary endpoint is severity of dysphonia and dysphagia at the time of initial assessment t = day 0 (for ITU patients: Day 0 = 24 hours after extubation or decannulation).
Based on therapy outcome measures from FEES, VoiS
Time frame: t = day 0 (for ITU patients: Day 0 = 24 hours after extubation or decannulation).
The severity of dysphonia and/or dysphagia over an initial 12 month period (at t = 14 days, 1 month, 3 months, 6 months, 9 months, 12 months)
Clinical assessment including outcome measures, FEES and/or Videofluoroscopy
Time frame: t = 14 days, 1 month, 3 months, 6 months, 9 months, 12 months
The severity of dysphonia and/or dysphagia at t = day 5, day 10, day 14, day 21 - For in-patients only.
Clinical assessment including outcome measures, FEES and/or Videofluoroscopy
Time frame: t = day 5, day 10, day 14, day 21 - For in-patients only.
Relationship between severity of dysphonia and/or dysphagia with grade of ARDS
Clinical assessment including outcome measures, FEES and/or Videofluoroscopy
Time frame: t = day 0 and 9 months
Relationship between severity of dysphonia and/or dysphagia with length of intubation
Clinical assessment including outcome measures, FEES and/or Videofluoroscopy
Time frame: t = day 0 and 9 months
Relationship between severity of dysphonia and/or dysphagia with duration of mechanical ventilation
Clinical assessment including outcome measures, FEES and/or Videofluoroscopy
Time frame: t = day 0 and 9 months
Relationship between severity of dysphonia on quality of life using Voice Symptom Scale (VoiSS) questionnaire over time at day 0, 1 month and 9 months.
Questionnaire assessment: This is a 30-item validated quality of life tool that is also a self-reporting tool. It appraises the impact of the patient's abnormal voice from an emotional perspective, related physical symptoms and stratifies the impairment itself in context of day to day activities. VoiSS is currently the most psychometrically robust voice outcome measure. Each item is scored 0 - 4 on the frequency responses: never, occasionally, some of the time, most of the time, always. The total score of 120 measures general voice pathology which is made up of Impairment = maximum score of 60; Emotional = maximum score of 32; Physical = maximum score of 28
Time frame: t = day 0, 1 month and 9 months.
Relationship between severity of dysphagia on quality of life using Dysphagia Handicap Index (DHI) questionnaire over time at day 0, 1 month and 9 months
Questionnaire assessment: This is a 25-item questionnaire assessing three domains: physical (9 items), functional (9 items), and emotional aspects (7 items) of the Quality of Life (QOL) in patients suffering with dysphagia. For each statement the patient checks if it applies to him/her all the time, some of the time or never. The suggested scores are 0, 2 and 4, respectively. Using this scoring system amounts to a DHI score range of 0 - 100. The higher the score, the worse the dysphagia related QOL. The patient is also asked to provide a rating of their own impression of the severity of the dysphagia experienced on a scale from 1 (normal) to 7 (severe problem).
Time frame: t = day 0, 1 month and 9 months
Plan to share: No
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Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust