OBJECTIVES: Dysphagia occurs in approximately 51%-78% of patients with acute stroke. The incidence of pneumonia caused by aspiration in dysphagic patients increases both mortality and the need for hospitalization. The aim of this study was to investigate whether the incidence of aspiration pneumonia could be reduced in such patients by an early screening for dysphagia and intensified oral hygiene. MATERIAL AND METHODS: In this controlled trial, 146 hospitalized acute stroke patients with moderate or severe dysphagia were included in three groups: an intervention group (n = 58), one internal control group (n = 58, retrospectively selected from same clinic), and one external control group (n = 30) from a comparable stroke unit in a neighboring hospital. The intervention consisted of early screening with a clinical method of dysphagia screening, the Gugging Swallowing Screen, and intensified oral hygiene. RESULTS: The incidence of x-ray verified pneumonia was 4 of 58 (7%) in the intervention group compared with 16 of 58 (28%) in the internal control group (p < .01) and with 8 of 30 (27%) in the external control group (p < .05). CONCLUSIONS: Early and systematic dysphagia screening by the Gugging Swallowing Screen method and intensified oral hygiene reduced the incidence of x-ray verified pneumonia.
OBJECTIVES:Dysphagia occurs in approximately 51%-78% of patients with acute stroke. The incidence of pneumonia caused by aspiration in dysphagic patients increases both mortality and the need for hospitalization. The aim of this study was to investigate whether the incidence of aspiration pneumonia could be reduced in such patients by an early screening for dysphagia and intensified oral hygiene. MATERIAL AND METHODS: In this controlled trial, 146 hospitalized acute strokepatients with moderate or severe dysphagia were included in three groups: an intervention group (n = 58), one internal control group (n = 58, retrospectively selected from same clinic), and one external control group (n = 30) from a comparable stroke unit in a neighboring hospital. The intervention consisted of early screening with a clinical method of dysphagia screening, the Gugging Swallowing Screen, and intensified oral hygiene. RESULTS: The incidence of x-ray verified pneumonia was 4 of 58 (7%) in the intervention group compared with 16 of 58 (28%) in the internal control group (p < .01) and with 8 of 30 (27%) in the external control group (p < .05). CONCLUSIONS: Early and systematic dysphagia screening by the Gugging Swallowing Screen method and intensified oral hygiene reduced the incidence of x-ray verified pneumonia.
Authors: Elizabeth Boaden; Jane Burnell; Lucy Hives; Paola Dey; Andrew Clegg; Mary W Lyons; C Elizabeth Lightbody; Margaret A Hurley; Hazel Roddam; Elizabeth McInnes; Anne Alexandrov; Caroline L Watkins Journal: Cochrane Database Syst Rev Date: 2021-10-18
Authors: Mary Lyons; Craig Smith; Elizabeth Boaden; Marian C Brady; Paul Brocklehurst; Hazel Dickinson; Shaheen Hamdy; Susan Higham; Peter Langhorne; Catherine Lightbody; Giles McCracken; Antonieta Medina-Lara; Lise Sproson; Angus Walls; Dame Caroline Watkins Journal: Eur Stroke J Date: 2018-05-08
Authors: Vanessa Hollaar; Claar van der Maarel-Wierink; Gert-Jan van der Putten; Wil van der Sanden; Bert de Swart; Cees de Baat Journal: BMC Geriatr Date: 2016-03-07 Impact factor: 3.921