International Dysphagia Research Studies

Greece - Collaboration focused on adult patients

In March of 2011 Dr. Malandraki led the effort to create the first comprehensive Dysphagia Team at the largest Greek public Hospital (Hospital Evangelismos) in Athens, Greece in collaboration with Dr. Serafim Nanas (Professor of Pathology) and Dr. Vasiliki Markaki (Attending Physician).

Drs. Markaki and Malandraki at the Radiology Department of Evangelismos Hospital
Drs. Markaki and Malandraki at the Radiology Department of Evangelismos Hospital
Dr. Malandraki performs a swallow x-ray study on a Greek patient.
Dr. Malandraki performs a swallow x-ray study on a Greek patient.

Our collaborative studies aim to collect the first epidemiological data for dysphagia in Greece and increase public and governmental awareness on the importance of dysphagia training and rehabilitation.

Our first large-scale retrospective observational cohort study of patients in the largest Greek step-down intensive care unit (ICU) revealed that 23% of patients in the unit were found to have dysphagia; 75.9% of whom exhibited moderate/severe dysphagia (Malandraki et al. 2016). Moderate/severe dysphagia was correlated with prolonged intubation, and was found to significantly increase the risk for pneumonia and in-hospital mortality. These results constitute the first documentation of the importance of early dysphagia identification management in critical patients in Greece.

Our current research efforts focus in developing and standardizing diagnostic and treatment tools in Greek language and establishing a telehealth initiative.

Collaborators

Funding provided by:

  • Patricia Cluss Donation Fund
  • Greek ICU grant (PI: Nanas)