Abstract：
The Repetitive Saliva Swallow Test (RSST) is a screening test for oropharyngeal dysphagia during which the subject is asked to perform as many empty swallows as possible in 30 s. Previous validation studies found a cutoff value of 3 > swallows as pathological. The aims of this study were to establish the normative values of the RSST and to examine the effect of clinical factors on RSST scores in healthy adults. A cross-sectional study of 280 adults. An equal number of females and males were recruited for each decade of life, ages 20 to 90 years. Patients reporting swallowing difficulties, history of neurologic disorders, or head and neck surgery or radiation were excluded. Data collected included RSST scores, number and type of comorbidities, number of prescribed medications, body mass index, smoking habits, and self-assessment xerostomia questionnaire. The mean RSST score for the entire cohort was 7.01 ± 2.86. Males had a higher RSST score (7.6 ± 3.04 compared to 6.47 ± 2.56, p = 0.001). Age showed an inverse correlation with RSST scores (Pearson\'s Correlation Coefficient (PCC) = -0.463, p < 0.0001), as well as body mass index, BMI (PCC = -0.2, p < 0.0001), number of co-morbidities (PCC=-0.344, p < 0.0001) and number of prescribed medications (PCC= -0.425, p < 0.0001). Self-reported amount of saliva positively correlated (PCC = 1.05, p = 0.04) with RSST scores. A multivariate logistic regression analysis was performed. Age, sex, BMI, and number of prescribed medications were found as significant independent factors on RSST scores. RSST scores in healthy adults decline with age and are lower in females, individuals taking multiple medications and with higher BMI. Mean RSST for all age groups did not fall beneath the previously established pathological cut-off.
摘要：
重复唾液吞咽试验(RSST)是口咽吞咽困难的筛选试验,在该试验期间要求受试者在30秒内进行尽可能多的空吞咽。先前的验证研究发现3>吞咽的截断值是病理性的。这项研究的目的是建立RSST的标准值，并检查临床因素对健康成人RSST评分的影响。一项针对280名成年人的横断面研究。在生命的每十年中招募相同数量的女性和男性，年龄20至90岁。患者报告吞咽困难，神经系统疾病的历史，或头颈部手术或放疗被排除。收集的数据包括RSST分数，合并症的数量和类型，处方药的数量，身体质量指数,吸烟习惯,自评口干症问卷。整个队列的平均RSST评分为7.01±2.86。男性的RSST评分较高（7.6±3.04，与6.47±2.56相比，p=0.001）。年龄与RSST评分呈负相关(皮尔逊相关系数(PCC)=-0.463,p<0.0001),以及身体质量指数，BMI（PCC=-0.2，p<0.0001），合并症数量（PCC=-0.344，p<0.0001）和处方药数量（PCC=-0.425，p<0.0001）。自我报告的唾液量与RSST评分呈正相关（PCC=1.05，p=0.04）。进行多因素logistic回归分析。年龄,性别,BMI,和处方药数量被发现是RSST评分的显著独立因素。健康成年人的RSST评分随着年龄的增长而下降，女性则较低，服用多种药物和BMI较高的个体。所有年龄组的平均RSST均未低于先前确定的病理临界值。
