Effect of age on differences in upper esophageal sphincter and pharynx pressures between patients with dysphagia and control subjects

OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to explore the effect of age and food consistency on manometric data of the swallow sequence in patients with dysphagia. METHODS: Manometric data from 41 patients (age range, 32-88 yr) and 41 age-matched control subjects was examined for differences between subgroups < 60 yr and > or = 60 yr of age, as well as for changes with food consistency. RESULTS: Only pharynx peak pressure showed an age-dependent decrease (144.1 +/- 21.4 mm Hg vs 95.8 +/- 15.1 mm Hg, p < 0.05) in patients. Significant higher upper esophageal sphincter residual pressure and delayed onset of upper esophageal sphincter relaxation were noted in patients aged <60 yr compared to age-matched controls, whereas only pharynx peak pressure was significantly lower in patients compared to controls aged > or = 60 yr. Food consistency did not have a consistent effect on manometric results in patients with dysphagia. CONCLUSIONS: This is the first study to systematically explore the influence of age and food consistency on manometric parameters in dysphagia patients. These results may provide useful insights when identifying actual manometric abnormalities in patients with dysphagia. They also suggest possible different underlying mechanisms of dysphagia in younger versus older patients.