Effect of Electroacupuncture at Lianquan Point Combined with Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation on Swallowing Function and Long-term Prognosis in Elderly Patients with Swallowing Disorder after Stroke

Objective To investigate the therapeutic effect of electroacupuncture at Lianquan point combined with transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) on elderly patients with swallowing disorder after stroke. Methods From July 2022 to November 2023, a total of 116 elderly patients with swallowing disorder after stroke admitted to Handan Central Hospital were divided into a control group and a study group according to random number table, each had 58 cases. The control group was treated with tDCS, and the a study group was treated with electroacupuncture at Lianquan point combined with tDCS. The total effective rate, swallowing difficulties ［modified Mann assessment of swallowing ability scale (MASA)］, nutritional indexes ［serum prealbumin (PA) and albumin (ALB)］, surface electromyography results (EMG swallowing duration and maximum amplitude), nerve injury indexes ［brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) and neuropeptide Y (NPY)］ and long-term prognostic indicators ［activities of daily living scale (ADL)］ were compared between the two groups. Results After treatment, the total effective rate and MASA score in the study group were higher than those in the control group; PA and ALB were higher than those in the control group, swallowing duration was shorter than that in the control group, and the maximum amplitude was larger than that in the control group. BDNF was higher than that in the control group, NPY was lower than that in the control group; the ADL score was higher than that in the control group, with statistical significance (P