Dear Kylie,

        Thank you for your email dated 6.6.2022. Our reply is given below
for your reference please.

1. Number of patients with dysphagia in public hospitals in last 5 years
2. Patients with dysphagia in different age groups in last 5 years eg
under 18, 18-54, 54 or above

        Our department does not keep the number of patients with dysphagia
in public hospitals.  Nevertheless, the statistics regarding episodes of
inpatient discharges due to dysphagia in public hospitals in Hong Kong in
2016-2020 with breakdown by age groups as requested can be provided as
attached (please note that an inpatient with dysphagia may be counted more
than one episode of inpatient discharge due to dysphagia in a year).

3. Number of patients with dysphagia also developed malnutrition/ refusal
to eat/ tablet crushing
        The information under request is not available.

4. Common diseases related / led to dysphagia
        Dysphagia is a medical term for difficulty in swallowing. It is a
symptom which is usually caused by some health conditions, for example -

*         neurological conditions, e.g. stroke, Parkinson's disease,
brain tumours, etc.;
*         congenital and developmental conditions, e.g. cerebral palsy,
cleft  lip and palate, etc.;
*         conditions causing obstruction, e.g. laryngeal cancer or
oesophageal cancer, gastro-oesophageal reflux disease, etc.;
*         muscular conditions, e.g. scleroderma, achalasia, etc.

       
        Please note that the above examples of causes of dysphagia are not
exhaustive and intended for reference only.

        If members of the public have concerns on health related issues
including dysphagia, they are advised to consult doctors for  advice as
appropriate.

5. Number of deaths related to dysphagia
        There was no registered death due to dysphagia in 2016-2020.

Regards,
(Mr Kenneth LAM)
for Director of Health

show quoted sections