Unit 1 - Dysphagia
Lesson 1.1 Dysphagia
1.1.5.3 Quality of life
Quality of life may be defined as the degree to which an individual is healthy, comfortable, and able to participate in or enjoy life events.
Previous main complications associated with dysphagia may lead to decreased quality of life and social isolation, besides that place people at high risk for co-morbidities and mortality.
When dysphagia is underestimated, unrecognized (so-called silent dysphagia) or left untreated, they may lead to previous risk as: aspiration pneumonia, dehydration, malnutrition, etc, followed by feelings of social isolation, anxiety or even depression.
All this leads to an increase in dependency, a greater burden of personal and medical care, as well as an increase in institutionalization.