article · Jaccrafrica.com.
Post-stroke dysphagia, a condition characterised by swallowing difficulties, is common and linked to increased patient morbidity and mortality. A cross-sectional investigation at Douala General Hospital evaluated 156 consecutive stroke patients using the Gugging Swallowing Screen between March 2023 and February 2024. The study identified dysphagia in 39.7 percent of the participants. Factors associated with a higher likelihood of the condition included advanced age, stroke severity, and brainstem stroke location. Furthermore, aspiration pneumonia developed in 18 percent of individuals with dysphagia, compared with only 3 percent of those without the condition. The findings demonstrate that post-stroke swallowing difficulties are widespread in this setting and suggest that systematic implementation of the Gugging Swallowing Screen offers a straightforward, practical approach for clinical assessment.
Difficulty swallowing after a stroke dramatically increases the risk of severe chest infections and death. Identifying affected patients quickly using simple, validated tools helps healthcare teams intervene early, potentially preventing complications such as aspiration pneumonia even in resource-limited hospital environments.
The findings support the clinical adoption of the Gugging Swallowing Screen protocol by hospital staff and healthcare administrators in resource-constrained environments. While this research focuses on validating an existing clinical assessment tool rather than developing a commercial product, it could inform standardized training programmes or clinical decision-support software for acute stroke care.
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Background: Post-stroke dysphagia is common and associated with increased morbidity and mortality. Screening is essential but challenging in low-resource settings. Methodology: Cross-sectional study conducted at the Douala General Hospital from March 2023 to February 2024. Consecutive stroke patients were screened using the Gugging Swallowing Screen (GUSS). Results: Among 156 patients included, 62 (39.7%) had dysphagia. Risk factors included advanced age (OR=2.3), severe stroke (OR=3.1), and brainstem location (OR=4.2). Aspiration pneumonia occurred in 18% of patients with dysphagia vs 3% without (p<0.001). Conclusion: Dysphagia is frequent after stroke in our setting. The GUSS is a simple and effective screening tool that should be systematically implemented. Keywords: Dysphagia, stroke, screening, low-resource settings, GUSS.
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DOI: 10.70065/2612s1.jaccrneuro.025l012904
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