Brain Disorders & Therapy

Dysphagia and pneumonia in older stroke in patients

7^th International Conference on Neurological Disorders & Stroke

September 20-21, 2018 | Rome, Italy

Aruna Karthigayan and Tan Kit Mun

University of Malaya, Malaysia

Posters & Accepted Abstracts: Brain Disord Ther

Abstract:

Post-stroke dysphagia (PSD), is a common complication in the early phase of an acute stroke. It is an important risk factor for pneumonia within the first days after a stroke. Our objective is to describe the incidence of pneumonia in patients with PSD and the impact on inpatient clinical outcomes. This is a retrospective study of all acute stroke patients aged ???65 years admitted to the Geriatric Medicine ward in University Malaya Medical Centre in 2016. 116 patients, with an average age of (81.7±6.46) were included. Of these, 70(60.3%) had dysphagia of whom, 19(27.1%) had dysphagia as an initial presentation of stroke. Sixty-two (88.6%) required an NG tube while the rest were on a modified consistency oral diet early in their admission. Dysphagic patients were more likely to develop pneumonia (42.9% vs., 17.4%, p=0.004), stay longer in hospital (19.9±18.4 vs., 12.5±9.7 days, p=0.014) and die as inpatients (25.6% vs 4.3%, p=0.003) compared to non-dysphagic patients. Seven (38.9%) dysphagic patients who died had pneumonia as the cause of death. Dysphagic patients who died were significantly older (85.8±5.8 vs 80.3±6.6, p=0.003). Prior to discharge, swallow improved for 33 patients (47.1%). NG was removed within 7 days for 18 patients (29%), 13 (21%) within 14 days and 4 (6.5%) within 4 weeks. Length of stay of dysphagic patients with pneumonia were longer than those without (27.7±24.9 vs., 14±7.7 days, p=0.007). In conclusion PSD is strongly associated with development of pneumonia, increased length of stay and inpatient mortality.

Biography :

E-mail: ar8201na@gmail.com