What is the incidence rate of Dysphagia?
Dysphagia is the medical term for swallowing difficulties. Its usually caused by certain medicines or another condition. [1].
Some people with dysphagia have problems swallowing certain foods or liquids, while others can’t swallow at all. [1].
Adults
Research found the following rates of prevalence and incidence for dysphagia [2]:
- between 50-75% of nursing home residents
- between 50-60% of head and neck cancer survivors
- between 40-78% of stroke survivors – of those with initial dysphagia following stroke, 76% will remain with a moderate to severe dysphagia and 15% with profound dysphagia
- 48% of patients undergoing cervical discectomy and fusion
- 33% of the people with multiple sclerosis
- 27% of those with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
- 10% of acutely hospitalised older people
- 5% of adults with a learning disability, 5% of community-based individuals with learning disabilities and 36% of hospital-based individuals.
Children
Most at risk of suffering from dysphagia in the paediatric segment include: infants, children and young people with neuro disability and those born prematurely. [3]
Recent research has found the incidence of feeding difficulties is [3]
- between 25-45% in a typically developing paediatric population
- between 31-99% for children with cerebral palsy
- between 21-44% for children with general neurodevelopmental disabilities
- between 26.8-40% of infants born prematurely
- between 68-72% of children with acquired conditions during the acute phase of care.
ROS000057-007 DOP September 2025