Abstract
Objectives: The purpose of this study was to clarify factors related to a history of suffocation accidents in the elderlyneeding care at home.
Methods: The subjects were 308 volunteers (90 men; mean age, 78.4±8.4 years and 218 women; 83.4±7.3 years) who required day-care services. We conducted a questionnaire survey of thesubjects about any episode of suffocation, and analyzed the results by comparing associated factors such as age, sex, height & weight, ability to perform theactivities of daily life, cognitive function, underlying disease, medication, type of food, help with eating, occlusal status, swallowing function, and tongue motor function.
Results and discussion: Thirty-six (11.7%: 12 men and 24 women; mean age 81.3±8.9 years) of 308 subjects hada past history of suffocation. Univariate logistic regression analysis demonstrated that statistically significant riskfactors among the factors included in the questionnaire were: 1) taking medication that may cause side effects on theoropharyngeal function, 2) type of food, 3) help with eating, 4) swallowing function, and 5) tongue motor function. As aresult of logistic regression analysis, the following factors were adopted as significant variables: history ofcerebrovascular disorder (p<0.01) and swallowing disorder (p<0.05).
Conclusions: It was suggested that individuals with a history of cerebrovascular disorder, swallowing disorder, thatmay cause side effects on the oropharyngeal function have a high risk of suffocation accidents, and therefore, shouldreceive careful attention while eating meals.
