Dysphagia and the Management of Patients in Need of Lipid-Lowering

Managing Dysphagia

Dysphagia, or difficulty swallowing, is a common and often debilitating condition that affects individuals of all ages. It can result from various causes, including neurological disorders, structural anatomical abnormalities, or muscular dysfunction. Dysphagia can have significant consequences on a person's quality of life, nutritional status and overall health. Therefore, it is crucial to increase awareness and understanding of this condition to ensure timely diagnosis, appropriate management and improved patient outcomes. When addressing the specific swallowing needs of individual patients, opting for liquid medications can be a valuable strategy to mitigate potential risks. However, it is crucial to engage with clinicians who have expertise in dysphagia in order to ensure a comprehensive approach that aligns with the individual’s requirements.

Dysphagia is prevalent, affecting a significant proportion of individuals. Among patients who have suffered a stroke, up to two-thirds experience dysphagia¹, highlighting its high incidence in this population. Additionally, up to approximately 60% of individuals with dementia also face the challenge of dysphagia¹. It has been reported that between 10 and 40% of all adult’s experience difficulty swallowing solid tablets². In addition, dysphagia has a high prevalence among the elderly³. Management strategies for dysphagia may include dietary modifications, swallowing exercises and the use of assistive devices⁴. In some cases, liquid medications or alternate formulations are prescribed to address swallowing difficulties and ensure medication adherence.

Enhancing Outcomes with Liquid Statin Medications

Achieving optimal cardiovascular outcomes with statin treatments relies on adherence to the prescribed regimen⁵. Unfortunately, adherence to statin therapy is frequently sub-optimal, resulting in inadequate reduction of LDL-C levels⁵. Non-adherence to treatment can stem from various factors, often specific to each patient's circumstances and personal considerations⁶. Statin non-adherence therefore poses a significant clinical burden⁶. For individuals who have difficulty swallowing solid tablets, their treatment adherence and therapeutic outcomes may be compromised⁷. This can lead people with dysphagia to resort to crushing tablets, which carries the risk of adverse drug reactions⁷. It is important to note that the Royal Pharmaceutical Society advises that if the formulation of a medicine is manipulated, then the product will then be classed as unlicensed⁸. However, the use of liquid medicines offers a solution to mitigate these risks. Liquid formulations may provide a more suitable and easier-to-swallow option for individuals with dysphagia, ensuring that they can take their medication without the challenges associated with solid tablets⁹. By addressing the issue of non-adherence through the availability of liquid medications, the clinical burden of statin non-adherence can be reduced, leading to improved outcomes and a decreased risk of stroke, major cardiac events and mortality¹⁰.

Addressing statin non-adherence through liquid medications may help enhance cardiovascular outcomes especially in the case of vulnerable patients.

By raising awareness, promoting the use of liquid medications and addressing non-adherence, healthcare professionals can significantly improve patient care and outcomes for individuals affected by dysphagia and who require statin therapy.

This educational presentation is funded by Rosemont Pharmaceuticals.

ROS000011-005 August/2023

Find out more about Rosemont’s Atorvastatin 4mg/ml Oral Suspension

Further information or education for your patients on dysphagia from RosemontProvide your patients with a better understanding of dysphagia

Report any adverse events
 

To access additional patient management resources, download the helpful infographic here 

References

1. Royal College of Speech and Language Therapy (2018) Guidance on the management of dysphagia in care homes.
2. Forough et al. 2018, A spoonful of sugar helps the medicine go down? A review of strategies for making pills easier to swallow, Patient Prefer Adherence 2018 Jul 26;12:1337-1346.
3. Clavé P, Shaker R. Dysphagia: current reality and scope of the problem. Nature Reviews Gastroenterology & Hepatology. 2015 May;12(5):259
4. National Health Service. Swallowing problems (dysphagia). NHS. Retrieved July 11, 2023, from https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/swallowing-problems-dysphagia/
5. García-Fernández-Bravo et al. 2022. Undertreatment or Overtreatment With Statins: Where Are We? Front Cardiovasc Med. 2022; 9: 808712.
6. Wouters et al. Understanding Statin Non-Adherence: Knowing Which Perceptions and Experiences Matter to Different Patients, PLoS One. 2016; 11(1): e0146272.
7. Strachan & Greener 2005, Medication-related swallowing difficulties may be more common than we realise, Pharmacy in Practice, 2005/11/01.
8. RPS Pharmaceutical Issues when crushing, opening or splitting oral dosage forms. June 2011.
9. Greenwall R. Medicine Management. Medicines management and older people – a guide for healthcare professionals. Aug 2017.
10. Lansberg et al. 2018, Nonadherence to statins: individualized intervention strategies outside the pill box, Vasc Health Risk Manag. 2018; 14: 91–102.
Top chemical substances dispensed in England by items 2022 | Statista: https://www.statista.com/statistics/378445