In the assessment of a 49-year-old woman with dysphagia, what data is the nurse likely to find?

In the context of assessing a patient with dysphagia, inadequate nutrient food intake is a highly relevant finding. Dysphagia often leads to difficulties in swallowing, which can result in reduced oral intake of food and fluids. As patients struggle to eat normally, they may avoid certain foods that are more challenging to swallow, leading to nutritional deficiencies. This inadequate intake can manifest as unintended weight loss, decreased muscle mass, and a range of related health issues.

In this scenario, a comprehensive assessment would typically reveal that the patient may not be receiving sufficient nutrients due to their swallowing difficulties, confirming that inadequate nutrient food intake is a common data point observed in individuals with dysphagia.