Table 2 Frequency and severity of scores measured by VHNSS 2.0 and Cronbach’s alpha
Domains/items descriptions | N (Missing) | VHNSS 0 | VHNSS 1–4 mild | VHNSS 5–6 moderate | VHNSS >7 severe | Cronbach’s alpha | Alpha if item deleted |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
n (%) | n (%) | n (%) | n (%) | (95 % CI) | |||
Nutrition | 0.618 (0.532–0.691) | ||||||
Weight loss | 239 (2) | 201 (84.1) | 25 (10.5) | 7 (2.9) | 6 (2.5) | 0.571 | |
Appetite loss | 241 (0) | 190 (78.8) | 15 (6.2) | 20 (8.2) | 16 (6.6) | 0.542 | |
Supplement use | 240 (1) | 187 (77.9) | 5 (2.1) | 12 (5.0) | 36 (15.0) | 0.656 | |
Trouble maintaining weight | 241 (0) | 188 (78.0) | 17 (7.1) | 20 (8.3) | 16 (6.6) | 0.418 | |
Swallowing solids | 0.858 (0.829–0.883) | ||||||
Trouble eating solids | 241 (0) | 59 (24.5) | 47 (19.5) | 69 (28.6) | 66 (27.4) | 0.842 | |
Food gets stuck in mouth | 241 (0) | 125 (51.9) | 40 (16.6) | 50 (20.7) | 26 (10.8) | 0.831 | |
Food gets stuck in throat | 241 (0) | 129 (53.5) | 53 (22.0) | 34 (14.1) | 25 (10.4) | 0.837 | |
Chokes on solids | 241 (0) | 158 (65.6) | 44 (18.3) | 27 (11.2) | 12 (5.0) | 0.842 | |
Cough after swallow | 241 (0) | 170 (70.5) | 38 (15.8) | 23 (9.5) | 10 (4.1) | 0.856 | |
Swallowing takes effort | 241 (0) | 146 (60.6) | 41 (17.0) | 32 (13.3) | 22 (9.1) | 0.829 | |
Eating takes longer | 240 (1) | 106 (44.2) | 40 (16.7) | 57 (23.8) | 37 (15.4) | 0.823 | |
Sensitivity to acidic, spicy or hot foods | 241 (0) | 118 (49.0) | 36 (14.9) | 37 (15.4) | 50 (20.7) | 0.862 | |
Swallowing liquids | 0.620 (0.511–0.705) | ||||||
Trouble drinking liquids | 241 (0) | 204 (84.6) | 20 (8.3) | 10 (4.1) | 7 (2.9) | _ | |
Chokes on liquids | 241 (0) | 185 (76.8) | 36 (14.9) | 12 (5.0) | 8 (3.3) | _ | |
Dry mouth | 0.840 (0.806–0.870) | ||||||
Dry mouth | 241 (0) | 47 (19.5) | 45 (18.7) | 56 (23.2) | 93 (38.6) | 0.803 | |
Difficulty chewing | 240 (1) | 92 (38.3) | 43 (17.9) | 46 (19.2) | 59 (24.6) | 0.779 | |
Difficulty sleeping | 241 (0) | 171 (71.0) | 29 (12.0) | 17 (7.1) | 24 (10.0) | 0.853 | |
Difficulty speaking | 240 (1) | 122 (50.8) | 38 (15.8) | 39 (16.3) | 41 (17.1) | 0.804 | |
Sensitivity to dryness | 241 (0) | 123 (51.0) | 39 (16.2) | 44 (18.3) | 35 (14.5) | 0.791 | |
Mouth pain | 0.829 (0.783–0.868) | ||||||
Sores cause pain | 241 (0) | 214 (88.8) | 12 (5.0) | 8 (3.3) | 7 (2.9) | 0.801 | |
Trouble swallowing | 241 (0) | 208 (86.3) | 9 (3.7) | 15 (6.2) | 9 (3.7) | 0.778 | |
Trouble speaking | 240 (1) | 208 (86.7) | 12 (5.0) | 12 (5.0) | 8 (3.3) | 0.780 | |
Sensitivity of mouth/throat | 241 (0) | 197 (81.7) | 19 (7.9) | 14 (5.8) | 11 (4.6) | 0.788 | |
Altered food choices | 241 (0) | 201 (84.6) | 9 (3.7) | 14 (5.8) | 14 (5.8) | 0.811 | |
Difficulty brushing teeth | 153 (0) | 141 (92.2) | 2 (1.3) | 5 (3.3) | 5 (3.3) | 0.842 | |
Mucus | 0.743 (0.685–0.792) | ||||||
Mucus/phlegm | 240 (1) | 116 (48.3) | 51 (21.3) | 45 (18.8) | 28 (11.7) | 0.716 | |
Choking | 241 (0) | 204 (84.6) | 17 (7.1) | 8 (3.3) | 12 (5.0) | 0.685 | |
Difficulty swallowing | 241 (0) | 203 (84.2) | 16 (6.6) | 13 (5.4) | 9 (3.7) | 0.689 | |
Sleep affected | 240 (1) | 198 (82.5) | 20 (8.3) | 15 (6.3) | 7 (2.9) | 0.653 | |
Voice/communication | 0.735 (0.671–0.789) | ||||||
Trouble speaking | 240 (1) | 135 (56.3) | 37 (15.4) | 49 (20.4) | 19 (7.9) | 0.646 | |
Hoarse voice | 239 (2) | 97 (40.6) | 59 (24.7) | 48 (20.1) | 35 (14.6) | 0.742 | |
Trouble being understood | 238 (3) | 137 (57.6) | 33 (13.9) | 37 (15.5) | 31 (13.0) | 0.544 | |
Taste/smell | 0.823 (0.786–0.856) | ||||||
Taste altered | 239 (2) | 140 (58.6) | 31 (13.0) | 41 (17.2) | 27 (11.3) | 0.756 | |
Decreased desire to eat | 241 (0) | 177 (73.4) | 21 (8.7) | 26 (10.8) | 17 (7.1) | 0.757 | |
Altered food choices | 240 (1) | 181 (75.4) | 20 (8.3) | 23 (9.6) | 16 (6.7) | 0.788 | |
Decreased food eaten | 241 (1) | 167 (69.3) | 28 (11.6) | 31 (12.9) | 15 (6.2) | 0.766 | |
Sense of smell changed | 240 (0) | 177 (73.8) | 23 (9.6) | 22 (9.2) | 18 (7.5) | 0.853 | |
Altered food choices | 241 (0) | 219 (90.9) | 9 (3.7) | 9 (3.7) | 4 (1.7) | 0.823 | |
Teeth | 0.670 (0.573–0.749) | ||||||
Difficulty chewing | 226 (1) | 79 (35.0) | 36 (15.9) | 55 (24.3) | 56 (24.8) | 0.592 | |
Teeth sensitive to hot, cold, sweet foods | 147 (1) | 75 (51.0) | 23 (15.6) | 23 (15.6) | 26 (17.7) | 0.545 | |
Teeth feel looser | 147 (1) | 108 (73.5) | 15 (10.2) | 10 (6.8) | 14 (9.5) | 0.566 | |
Cracking/chipping teeth | 147 (1) | 105 (71.4) | 16 (10.9) | 18 (12.2) | 8 (5.4) | 0.683 | |
General pain | 0.820 (0.776–0.856) | ||||||
Average pain level | 241 (0) | 173 (71.8) | 41 (17.0) | 17 (7.1) | 10 (4.1) | 0.610 | |
Worst pain level | 240 (1) | 174 (72.5) | 30 (12.5) | 16 (6.7) | 20 (8.3) | 0.639 | |
Pain causing difficulty sleeping | 240 (1) | 212 (88.3) | 9 (3.8) | 8 (3.3) | 11 (4.6) | 0.927 | |
Trismus | |||||||
Limited mouth opening | 241 (0) | 173 (71.8) | 26 (10.8) | 26 (10.8) | 16 (6.6) | – | |
Neck | |||||||
Limitations in neck/shoulder movement | 241 (0) | 173 (71.8) | 30 (12.4) | 24 (10.0) | 14 (5.8) | – | |
Hearing | |||||||
Hearing problems | 241 (0) | 166 (68.9) | 24 (10.0) | 23 (9.5) | 28 (11.6) | – | |