Clinical features predicting oral intake after onset of pneumonia in patients with Parkinsonism

Abstract

Objective: In this study, we examined clinical features predicting oral intake after onset of pneumonia in patients with Parkinsonism.

Methods: We enrolled 136 patients with Parkinsonism who were admitted to our hospital due to pneumonia. The patients were divided into an oral intake group and a non-oral intake group, and various clinical parameters were compared between the groups. We also investigated the clinical course of patients with severe dysphagia during the early stage of hospitalization.

Results: Multivariate analysis showed that independent clinical parameters related to oral intake at discharge were “severity of dysphagia during the early stage of hospitalization” and “degree of independence in daily living before hospitalization”. Dysphagia rehabilitation started at a relatively early stage in patients who had severe dysphagia during the early stage of hospitalization, but neurologists had little involvement during hospitalization and about half of the patients were treated for Parkinsonism.

Conclusion: Given that medication adjustment, as well as dysphagia rehabilitation, is important for treatment of dysphagia in some patients with Parkinsonism, collaboration with neurologists is necessary so that these patients can regain oral intake ability in the future.