Nestle, stroke body in dysphagia drive

Nestle Health Science announced it and the Chinese Stroke Association signed an agreement on March 30 to jointly improve the screening, diagnosis and management of dysphagia - defined as difficulty in swallowing, caused by obstruction or spasms in the oesophagus - amongst stroke patients in the country.

It is estimated that between 3.4 and 7.4 million patients suffer from dysphagia in China. Stroke is one of the most common causes of dysphagia, leaving patients vulnerable to dehydration, malnutrition and aspiration pneumonia.

Nestle Health Science, a unit of the Swiss based international food group, said it would work and share resources with the Chinese Stroke Association on the introduction of clinical innovation and best practice standards in the mainland's leading stroke centers.