2020 Volume 57 Issue 1 Pages 45-52
Aim: To clarify risk factors for aspiration pneumonia and the effects of aspiration pneumonia on the recovery after stroke in elderly stroke patients in a convalescent rehabilitation ward.
Methods: We conducted a retrospective study of 463 stroke patients with dysphagia who were ≥65 years of age (mean age, 80.2±8.1 years) who were admitted to our convalescent rehabilitation ward. Information was obtained from medical charts. A multivariate analysis was performed to clarify risk factors for aspiration pneumonia and the association between aspiration pneumonia and increased functional oral intake scale and functional independence measure motor scores. For the increase in functional independence measure motor score, values of ≥16 points and ≤15 points were coded as 1 and 0, respectively.
Results: Aspiration pneumonia developed in 52 patients. The multivariate analysis revealed that male sex (odds ratio [OR] 3.07, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.59-5.95, p<0.001), geriatric nutritional risk index (OR for one unit increase 0.94, 95% CI 0.90-0.97, p<0.001) and tube feeding (OR 3.89, 95% CI 1.71-8.83, p=0.001) on admission were significant predictors of aspiration pneumonia. Aspiration pneumonia was associated with increased functional oral intake scale scores (OR 0.29, 95% CI 0.12-0.66, P=0.003) and increased functional independence measure motor scores (OR 0.23, 95% CI 0.09-0.55, P=0.001).
Conclusions: Male sex, undernutrition and tube feeding on admission are risk factors for aspiration pneumonia. Aspiration pneumonia is suggested to be associated with recovery of the oral intake of food and activities of daily living.
