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NCT Number: NCT05336760

Dysphagia, QoL and Attitudes Towards PEG in ALS Patients

In Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis, dysphagia has a high incidence. With deterioration of swallowing function, percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy (PEG) tube is recommended to ensure sufficient and safe oral intake. Dysphagia and PEG placement alter quality of life (QoL). However, QoL and attitudes toward PEG remain largely unexplored. The purpose of this study is to monitor the swallowing function in relationship to QoL and attitudes toward PEG tube insertion and feeding.

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Key information

Conditions

Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis Central Nervous System Diseases Metabolic Diseases Motor Neuron Disease Nervous System Diseases Neurodegenerative Diseases Neuromuscular Diseases Nutritional and Metabolic Diseases Proteostasis Deficiencies Spinal Cord Diseases TDP-43 Proteinopathies

Age range

18 year and older

Sex eligibility

All sexes

Study type

Observational

Primary location

University Medical Centre Ljubljana

Ljubljana, 1000, Slovenia

Location status: Recruiting

Location contact

Blaž Koritnik, MD, PhD

CONTACT

[email protected]

+386 1 5221501

About this study

The purpose of this study is to monitor the deterioration of swallowing function in ALS patient population, and to explore its impact on QoL and attitudes toward PEG tube insertion and feeding in the course of the disease. It will take maximum of 60 minutes to fully evaluate the swallowing function and complete the questionnaires. The evaluation procedure will be repeated every 3 months until PEG tube insertion, which will allow us to closely monitor the swallowing function in a relation to attitudes toward PEG and QoL. The data obtained from this study should contribute significantly to the knowledge of QoL in ALS patients with dysphagia, and it will allow for a comparison of QoL in ALS patients with and without PEG tube. This study will also expand the understanding of attitudes in ALS patients and their relatives toward PEG, and the impact of those attitudes on the decision-making process.

Who can participate

Healthy volunteers accepted: No

Only the study team can determine whether someone qualifies for participation.

Inclusion criteria

for patients:

  • 18 years of age or older
  • diagnosis of ALS
  • follow-up at University Medical Centre Ljubljana, Division of Neurophysiology, every 3 months
  • be able to visit the study site for in-person procedures every 3 months

Inclusion criteria

for relatives:

  • at least 18 years of age

Exclusion criteria

for patients:

  • co-existing illness or disorder that could influence the swallowing function independently of the ALS diagnosis
  • clinically significant cognitive deterioration or dementia at enrollment, as determined by the ALS study neurologist

Exclusion criteria

for relatives:

  • signs of probable cognitive deterioration or dementia at enrollment

Treatment and study plan

Iowa Oral Performance Instrument (IOPI)

Diagnostic Test

IOPI measures the peak pressure of the tongue strength and endurance using a disposable bulb placed on a hard palate behind the front teeth or at the base of the tongue. The participants will be asked to press the bulb with their tongue with maximum pressure, three times. To measure the endurance, the participants will be asked to hold the pressure for as long as they can.

Mann Assessment of Swallowing Ability (MASA)

Diagnostic Test

MASA is a standard clinical swallowing assessment protocol including general patient examination, on-the-outside visible signs of oral preparatory and transportation phase and pharyngeal phase of swallowing function.

fiberoptic endoscopic evaluation of swallowing

Diagnostic Test

The subjects will ingest up to 10 boluses ranging in thickness and volume (from thin to extremely-thick and a cookie).

Respiratory function measurements

Diagnostic Test

Respiratory function measurements will include forced vital capacity (FVC), maximum inspiratory pressure (MIP), and maximum expiratory pressure (MEP), all expressed in percentage of predicted values. Conventional methods of testing will be applied.

Primary outcomes

  1. Penetration-Aspiration Scale (PAS) change

    Time frame: Difference between baseline and PEG insertion (usually in 6-25 months after diagnosis, maximum follow-up 30 months)

    PAS is an 8-point scale used to determine swallowing safety. Levels 1 and 2 are considered safe, levels >3 indicate penetration or aspiration and are considered unsafe.

  2. Yale Residue Severity Rating Scale (YRSRS) change

    Time frame: Difference between baseline and PEG insertion (usually in 6-25 months after diagnosis, maximum follow-up 30 months)

    YRSRS is a validated measure of swallowing efficiency using an image-based assessment to determine post-swallow pharyngeal residue: location and severity. It is assessed using a 5-point ordinal scale (from 1=0 % residue to 5=50 % residue).

  3. Iowa Oral Performance Instrument (IOPI) change

    Time frame: Difference between baseline and PEG insertion (usually in 6-25 months after diagnosis, maximum follow-up 30 months)

    IOPI is a device which measures tongue strength (in kilopascals; kPa) and endurance (in seconds) while the participant presses the bulb with the front or the base of their tongue to the hard palate.

  4. Mann Assessment of Swallowing Ability (MASA) change

    Time frame: Difference between baseline and PEG insertion (usually in 6-25 months after diagnosis, maximum follow-up 30 months)

    MASA is a standard clinical swallowing assessment protocol administered by the speech-language therapist. Total score ranges from 38-200. Lower score indicates higher impairment.

  5. Eating Assessment Tool 10 (EAT-10) change

    Time frame: Difference between baseline and PEG insertion (usually in 6-25 months after diagnosis, maximum follow-up 30 months)

    EAT-10 is a validated self-administered dysphagia severity symptom survey including 10 items and a five-point scale (0=no problem to 4=sever problem). Higher total score indicates higher impairment.

  6. Swallowing Quality of Life Questionnaire (SWAL-QoL) change

    Time frame: At baseline and every 3 months until PEG insertion, 3 and 6 months after PEG insertion

    SWAL-QoL is a 44-item standardised psychometric scale that measures swallowing-related QoL across 10 domains. Scores for each individual domain and a total SWAL-QoL score are calculated. Total score ranges from 0-100 (100 indicating the most favourable state).

  7. Questionnaire on Attitudes Toward PEG Tube Feeding and Insertion Procedure change

    Time frame: Difference between baseline and PEG insertion (usually in 6-25 months after diagnosis, maximum follow-up 30 months)

    The questionnaire comprises 10 questions. The participants specify their level of agreement on a five-point Likert-type scale (1=strongly disagree, 5= strongly agree).

Secondary outcomes

  1. ALS Functional Rating Scale-Revised (ALSFRS-R) change

    Time frame: Difference between baseline and PEG insertion (usually in 6-25 months after diagnosis, maximum follow-up 30 months)

    ALSFRS-R is a 12-tem ALS-specific assessment of global functioning using a five-point scale (0=not able, 4= normal ability), with 48 points representing normal function.

  2. Functional Oral Intake Scale (FOIS) change

    Time frame: Difference between baseline and PEG insertion (usually in 6-25 months after diagnosis, maximum follow-up 30 months)

    FOIS is a validated 7-point scale demonstrating an individual's ability of daily oral food intake (1=no oral intake, 7=total oral intake with no restrictions).

  3. Dysphagia Outcome and Severity Scale (DOSS) change

    Time frame: Difference between baseline and PEG insertion (usually in 6-25 months after diagnosis, maximum follow-up 30 months)

    DOSS is a 7-point scale that rates the functional severity of dysphagia based on objective assessment and provides information on diet recommendations, independence level and type of nutrition necessary (level 7=normal swallowing function, level 1=severe dysphagia).

  4. BMI change

    Time frame: Difference between baseline and PEG insertion (usually in 6-25 months after diagnosis, maximum follow-up 30 months)

    Body mass index (in kg/m^2)

  5. Forced Vital Capacity (FVC) change

    Time frame: Difference between baseline and PEG insertion (usually in 6-25 months after diagnosis, maximum follow-up 30 months)

    Standard clinical respiratory assessment of FVC (in %)

  6. Peak Cough Flow (PCF) change

    Time frame: Difference between baseline and PEG insertion (usually in 6-25 months after diagnosis, maximum follow-up 30 months)

    Standard clinical respiratory assessment of PCF (in L/min)

  7. Maximal Inspiratory Pressure (MIP) change

    Time frame: Difference between baseline and PEG insertion (usually in 6-25 months after diagnosis, maximum follow-up 30 months)

    Standard clinical respiratory assessment of MIP (in cmH2)

  8. Maximal Expiratory Pressure (MEP) change

    Time frame: Difference between baseline and PEG insertion (usually in 6-25 months after diagnosis, maximum follow-up 30 months)

    Standard clinical respiratory assessment of MEP (in cmH2)

Study contacts

Contact information is provided by the study sponsor or research team.

Metka Moharić, MD, PhD

CONTACT

[email protected]

+386 1 4758441

Sponsors and collaborators

Lead sponsor

University Rehabilitation Institute, Republic of Slovenia

Other

Collaborators

  • University Medical Centre Ljubljana

Registry information

Official study title

Dysphagia, Quality of Life and Attitudes Towards Percutaneous Endoscopic Gastrostomy in Patients With Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis

Acronym: ALSDPEG

Important dates

Study start
2023
Primary completion
2026
Study completion
2026
First posted
Apr 20, 2022
Registry last updated
Jun 15, 2026

OpenTrials presents study information sourced from ClinicalTrials.gov. The official registry record should be consulted for the latest information.

View the official ClinicalTrials.gov record (opens in a new tab)

This listing is for discovery and informational purposes only. It is not medical advice, does not guarantee that a study is recruiting, and does not determine eligibility. Contact the study team and a qualified healthcare professional when considering participation.

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