An observational study in Multiple Sclerosis, Nutrition and Swallowing, sponsored by Sanko University. Enrolling by invitation at 1 site in Turkey (Türkiye). Open to participants aged 18 Years to 65 Years. Per ClinicalTrials.gov, last updated 2026-05-04.
Sponsored by Sanko University · Observational
The aim of this study is to evaluate the relationship between dysphagia severity and indicators of nutritional status and muscle function in ambulatory patients diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis (MS) who have swallowing difficulties. In patients with MS, the prevalence of swallowing disorders increases with disease duration and greater neurological involvement. Dysphagia may lead to important clinical consequences such as aspiration risk, inadequate oral intake, involuntary weight loss, and reduced quality of life.
Swallowing difficulties negatively affect both the adequacy and safety of nutrition, thereby increasing the risk of malnutrition. In addition, reduced energy and protein intake may lead to a decline in muscle strength and functional capacity.
However, in the MS population, dysphagia, nutritional status, and muscle function are often evaluated separately, and studies that assess these domains together are limited. There is a need for real-world data in ambulatory MS patients, particularly using age-independent nutritional screening tools and functional muscle assessment tests in combination.
This study aims to systematically and multidisciplinary evaluate nutritional status and muscle function in MS patients with dysphagia.
This study is a cross-sectional observational research conducted in ambulatory patients diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis (MS) who experience swallowing difficulties. Participants who meet the inclusion criteria will be informed about the study, and written informed consent will be obtained prior to enrollment.
Demographic and clinical data of the participants (such as age, gender, and disease duration) will be recorded. Swallowing function will be assessed using validated dysphagia screening and/or assessment tools.
Nutritional status will be evaluated using standardized nutritional screening tools and/or anthropometric measurements (such as body weight, height, and body mass index). Muscle function will be assessed using functional measures, including handgrip strength and/or other appropriate muscle performance tests.
The collected data will be statistically analyzed to investigate the relationship between dysphagia severity, nutritional status, and muscle function. No invasive procedures will be performed in this study; only observational and measurement-based assessments will be conducted.
3,264 studies on the registry are indexed under Multiple Sclerosis; 659 are open to participants now.
This study's planned enrollment of 34 is below the median of 100 across 970 observational studies indexed under Multiple Sclerosis.
Browse Multiple Sclerosis studies →Sanko University is the lead sponsor of 52 studies on the registry; 11 are open to participants now.
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MS patients with swallowing difficulties
Go through the criteria one by one — yes, no or not sure — and take the list to your doctor or the study team. Kept in this browser only.
Exclusion Criteria:
Underlined terms in the criteria open these too. Explained by clinicaltrials.gg, not part of the registry record. The study team decides who can take part.
Anti-inflammatory medicines such as prednisone, prednisolone and dexamethasone — not the anabolic steroids used for muscle.
Studies differ in what they allow: check which steroid medicines, routes (tablets, injections, creams, inhalers, eye drops) and doses this study accepts.
Malignancy means cancer. Criteria about another or earlier malignancy ask whether you have had a different cancer, usually within a set number of years.
Some are commonly allowed, such as treated skin cancers other than melanoma and early cancers removed completely — check the exceptions this study lists.
Corticosteroids (steroids)
Anti-inflammatory medicines such as prednisone, prednisolone and dexamethasone — not the anabolic steroids used for muscle.
Studies differ in what they allow: check which steroid medicines, routes (tablets, injections, creams, inhalers, eye drops) and doses this study accepts.
Explained by clinicaltrials.gg, not part of the registry record. The study team decides who can take part.
Cancer (malignancy)
Malignancy means cancer. Criteria about another or earlier malignancy ask whether you have had a different cancer, usually within a set number of years.
Some are commonly allowed, such as treated skin cancers other than melanoma and early cancers removed completely — check the exceptions this study lists.
Explained by clinicaltrials.gg, not part of the registry record. The study team decides who can take part.
Body weight and height
These will be measured in accordance with standard anthropometric measurement protocols. Height will be measured using a stadiometer with participants standing in the Frankfurt plane. Body weight will be measured with a calibrated digital scale accurate to 0.1 kg. Body mass index (BMI) will be calculated by dividing body weight in kilograms by the square of height in meters.
Time frame: 2 months
Eating Assessment Tool-10 (EAT-10)
Developed by Belafsky and colleagues , this is a 10-item self-report scale that assesses the severity of dysphagia as perceived by the patient. Each item is scored on a scale of 0-4, and the total score ranges from 0 to 40. A total score of 3 or higher indicates a clinically significant risk of dysphagia. The validity and reliability of the scale in Turkish were established by Demir and colleagues.
Time frame: 2 months
Dysphagia in Multiple Sclerosis (DYMUS)
Dysphagia in Multiple Sclerosis (DYMUS): DYMUS is a 10-item self-administered questionnaire requiring "yes/no" responses, developed to assess symptoms and signs of swallowing difficulties specific to multiple sclerosis (MS) in relation to solid and liquid foods. The validity and reliability study of the Turkish version was conducted by Arslan and colleagues, and it has been demonstrated that the Turkish version is a valid and reliable tool for assessing dysphagia in patients with MS.
Time frame: 2 months
Yale Swallowing Protocol
A standardized swallowing screening test developed to assess the risk of aspiration and the safety of oral feeding in individuals with swallowing disorders. The protocol focuses specifically on determining the risk of aspiration during fluid intake and is used as a quick and reliable screening tool in clinical practice. The test consists of a structured procedure requiring the individual to drink approximately 90 mL (3 ounces) of water without interruption.
Time frame: 2 months
Malnutrition Universal Screening Tool (MUST)
MUST is a short, practical, and age-independent nutritional screening tool developed to identify the risk of malnutrition in adults. It consists of three components: Body Mass Index (BMI), unintentional weight loss in the past 3-6 months, and the impact of acute illness or inability to eat. Based on the total score, individuals are classified as having low, moderate, or high risk of malnutrition. British Association for Parenteral and Enteral.
Time frame: 2 months
Plan to share: Undecided
No publications or documents are linked to this record.
Ran from Feb 2026 to primary completion in Apr 2026, 2 months.
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