Effects of high-frequency repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation combined with electrical stimulation on dysphagia after stroke / 中国基层医药

ABSTRACT

Objective:To investigate the clinical efficacy of high-frequency repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation combined with electrical stimulation in patients with dysphagia after stroke.Methods:Seventy-two stroke patients with dysphagia who received treatment in The First Hospital of Jiaxing from February 2019 to February 2020 were included in this study. They were randomly assigned to receive either electrical stimulation (control group, n = 36) or high-frequency repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation combined with electrical stimulation (observation group, n = 36) for 2 weeks. Changes in serum brain-derived neurotrophic factor, neuron-specific enolase, and vascular endothelial growth factor levels after treatment relative to before treatment were observed in each group. Scores of the swallowing function assessment scale, neurological deficit, and quality of life were compared between the control and observation groups. Results:After treatment, serum levels of brain-derived neurotrophic factor and vascular endothelial growth factor in the observation group were (7.98 ± 1.14) μg/L, (168.78 ± 10.28) ng/L, respectively, which were significantly higher than those in the control group [(5.80 ± 1.10) μg/L, (110.34 ± 10.47) ng/L, t = 8.26, 23.90, both P < 0.01]. Serum neuron-specific enolase level was significantly lower in the observation group than in the control group [(7.57 ± 1.17) μg/L vs. (10.66 ± 1.30) μg/L, t = 10.60, P < 0.001). The scores of swallowing function assessment scale and neurological deficits in the observation group were (2.47 ± 1.16) points and (7.03 ± 1.14) points, respectively, which were significantly lower than those in the control group [(5.75 ± 1.10) points, (9.66 ± 1.20) points, t = 12.31, 9.53, both P < 0.001]. Total effective rate [97.22% (35/36) vs. 77.78% (28/36)] and the score of swallowing quality of life questionnaire [(160.40 ± 8.32) points vs. (146.74 ± 8.10) points] were significantly higher in the observation group than in the control group ( χ2 = 4.57, P = 0.03, t = 7.25, P < 0.001). Conclusion:High-frequency repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation combined with electrical stimulation can greatly improve neurological function and swallowing function of stroke patients with dysphagia. The combined therapy is of certain clinical value and innovation.