Presbyphagia and oropharyngeal dysphagia in older adults: a scoping review protocol

Resumen

Introduction: Swallowing in older adults is often poorly understood in the literature due to the presence of overlapping terms such as presbyphagia and oropharyngeal dysphagia. Some studies suggest that aging causes dysphagia, while others distinguish between physiological changes associated with aging and pathological conditions. This inconsistency may compromise the interpretation of scientific evidence and clinical decision-making. In this context, it is essential to clarify definitions and relationships between these concepts, providing a more precise basis for healthcare practice. Furthermore, this discussion involves ageism and its influence on research and clinical practice in dysphagia. Objective: To map and describe the available scientific literature on aging and swallowing, focusing on how presbyphagia and oropharyngeal dysphagia are defined, related, assessed, and theoretically grounded. Methods: This is a scoping review protocol conducted according to the methodology of the Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI) and reported following the PRISMA-ScR guidelines. Studies involving older adults (≥ 60 years) addressing the relationship between aging and swallowing will be included, with a focus on presbyphagia and oropharyngeal dysphagia, considering definitions, conceptual relationships, assessment methods, and theoretical foundations, without restrictions regarding language, publication period, or context. Searches will be conducted in LILACS; MEDLINE (via PubMed); Embase; CINAHL; Scopus; PEDro; CENTRAL; and CDSR, as well as in grey literature, using adapted strategies. Study selection and data extraction will be performed by two independent reviewers, with disagreements resolved by consensus or by a third reviewer. Methodological quality will be assessed using the Mixed Methods Appraisal Tool (MMAT), and data will be synthesized descriptively, with presentation in tables, narrative summaries, and a PRISMA-ScR flow diagram.