A Knowledge-based Decision Support System for recommending safe recipes to individuals with dysphagia

Dysphagia is a disorder that can be associated to several pathological conditions, including neuromuscular diseases, with significant impact on quality of life. Dysphagia often leads to malnutrition, as a consequence of the dietary changes made by patients or their caregivers, who may deliberately decide to reduce or avoid specific food consistencies (because they are not perceived as safe), and the lack of knowledge in how to process foods are critics. Such dietary changes often result in unbalanced nutrients intake, which can have significant consequences for frail patients. This paper presents the development of a prototypical novel ontology-based Decision Support System (DSS) to support neuromuscular patients with dysphagia (following a per-oral nutrition) and their caregivers in preparing nutritionally balanced and safe meals.