Prevalence of Oropharyngeal Dysphagia in Patients with Stroke: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Oropharyngeal dysphagia (OD) is a prevalent and clinically significant challenge among patients with stroke, affecting their quality of life and overall prognosis. This systematic review aims to comprehensively assess and synthesize existing evidence on the prevalence of OD in a patient’s stroke. A comprehensive literature search was performed in major medical databases, including PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science, from inception to March 2023. Studies revealed the prevalence of OD in adult stroke patients. Two reviewers independently assessed the titles, abstracts, and full texts of potentially eligible studies. The studies were evaluated for bias using the Joanna Briggs Institute’s critical appraisal checklist. Data from the studies were extracted, and a meta-analysis was performed to estimate the pooled prevalence of OD in stroke patients. The initial search yielded 1,272 relevant studies, of which eight met the inclusion criteria for the systematic review. The combined sample size of the studies included was 1,830 patients. The pooled prevalence of OD in stroke patients was estimated to be 31.0% (95% confidence interval [CI]: 11.0-55.0%). Subgroup analysis based on stroke type (ischemic vs. hemorrhagic), stroke location (left hemisphere vs. right hemisphere vs. brainstem), and time since stroke onset was conducted to explore potential sources of heterogeneity. In conclusion, the study highlights the significant burden of OD in patients with stroke, emphasizing the need for early detection, comprehensive assessment, and tailored interventions to improve patient outcomes and identify risk factors.