RT Journal Article SR Electronic T1 The Prevalence of Dysphagia in Primary Care Patients: A HamesNet Research Network Study JF The Journal of the American Board of Family Medicine JO J Am Board Fam Med FD American Board of Family Medicine SP 144 OP 150 DO 10.3122/jabfm.2007.02.060045 VO 20 IS 2 A1 Wilkins, Thad A1 Gillies, Ralph A. A1 Thomas, Andria M. A1 Wagner, Peggy J. YR 2007 UL http://www.jabfm.org/content/20/2/144.abstract AB Purpose: A number of disorders cause dysphagia, which is the perception of an obstruction during swallowing. The purpose of this study was to determine the prevalence of dysphagia in primary care patients.Methods: Adults 18 years old and older were the subjects of an anonymous survey that was collected in the clinic waiting room before patients were seen by a physician. Twelve family medicine offices in HamesNet, a research network in Georgia, participated.Results: Of the 947 study participants, 214 (22.6%) reported dysphagia occurring several times per month or more frequently. Those reporting dysphagia were more likely to be women (80.8% women vs 19.2% men, P = .002) and older (mean age of 48.1 in patients with dysphagia vs mean age of 45.7 in patients without dysphagia, P = .001). Sixty-four percent of patients with dysphagia indicated that they were concerned about their symptoms, but 46.3% had not spoken with their doctor about their symptoms. Logistic regression analyses showed that increased frequency [odds ratio (OR) = 2.15, 95% CI 1.41–3.30], duration (OR = 1.91, CI 1.24–2.94), and concern (OR = 2.64, CI 1.36–5.12) of swallowing problems as well as increased problems eating out (OR = 1.72, CI 1.19–2.49) were associated with increased odds of having talked to a physician.Conclusions: This is the first report of the prevalence of dysphagia in an unselected adult primary care population. Dysphagia occurs commonly in primary care patients but often is not discussed with a physician.