H33 The swallowing disorder in huntington’s disease (hd): an observational study – nutritional aspects

Backround Dysphagiais a common problem in HD. There are limited data on the features of dysphagiaobserved in HD affecting different phases of ingestion, on the onset and progression of dysphagiain HD including a correlation to other clinical features of HD ( motor& cognitiveimpairment, degree of chorea) and its impact on nutritional status. Aim The nutritional part of the study aims to establish the relationship between malnutrition and dysphagia. Clinical assessments by speech therapistsas well as patient reported data Questionaires Clinical data as well subjective information by Dysphagiaaffected people in HD, provide data which could give the opportunity to create more exact Nutritional Guidelines for Dysphagiain HD. Methods 98 subjects with HD and a complaint of subjective swallowingproblems were enrolled. 13 subjects we saw twice in process and two subjects three times. 32 participants completed questionnaires on complaints (KSA), quality of life as impacted by swallowingproblems (SWAL-QOL) and a nutritional questionnaire (specifically designed for the study) and were studied using the FEES procedure (Fiberoptic endoscopic evaluation of swallowing). Furthermore we collected data on weight, BMI, stage of HD and clinical phenotypical characteristics of HD. Results 11.7 % of the participants had a BMI indicative of malnutrition. 7.2 % had a BMI indicative of overweight. Correlations were established between the extent of dysphagiaand the complaints on KSA, SWAL-QOL and the clinical swallowingassessments as well as the results obtained by FEES. Conclusions The relationship of BMI and dysphagiais complex. For the future we will collect longitudinal data to investigate the rate of progress of the dysphagiaand the course of the nutritional status in HD.