Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease and Occult Aspiration: A Review of the Recent Literature

The World Health Organization has identified Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and lower respiratory infections as the 3rd most common causes of death worldwide. A better understanding of both of these conditions may lead to improved healthcare and help to lower the death rates. An underappreciated factor that links COPD and lower respiratory infection is occult aspiration. To obtain the current status about the contribution that dysphagia may have in relation to the morbidity and mortality of persons with COPD, a search and review of the literature covering the past 3 years was conducted. Overall, there is a strong evidence of swallowing dysfunction in COPD patients. The relationships between COPD exacerbation, lower airway infection, and swallowing impairments point to possible strategies that could be used to prolong and improve life in those afflicted by preventing aspiration and the subsequent sequelae.