164 patients from 3 different centres treated with RT between 2008 and 2014 were included in the current study. Both physician-scored dysphagia and QoL data were prospectively obtained. The TDRS of all patients was correlated with the physician-scored dysphagia and the QoL data. To validate this prediction model, we tested the validity in terms of calibration and discrimination.
Partial acceleration had no influence on the TDRS. Regarding physician-scored dysphagia, there was a significant correlation with dysphagia grade ⩾2 at 1, 3, 6 and 9 months. The area-under-the-curve at 1 month was 0.85; at 3 months 0.80; at 6 months 0.85; at 9 months 0.86 and 0.79 at 12 months. Regarding QoL, TDRS correlates with PEG-tube usage at 6 and 12 months.
We found significant correlations between TDRS and dysphagia grade ⩾2 and PEG-tube usage.