Factors Associated with Aspiration Risk among Geriatric Patients with Dysphagia

Document Type : Research articles

Authors

1 Gerontological Nursing, Faculty of Nursing, Alexandria University

2 Gerontological Nursing, Faculty of Nursing, Alexandria University Abstract

Abstract

Dysphagia is considered a serious problem affecting geriatric patients because of the increased
risk of aspiration. Dysphagia and risk for aspiration is a geriatric syndrome that should be screened
early and treated in all hospital admitted geriatric patients in order to reduce morbidity and length of
hospital stay. Objective: Identify the factors associated with aspiration risk among geriatric patients
with dysphagia. Setting: The study was carried out in the Medical Units of the Main University
Hospital, Alexandria, Egypt. Subjects: The study included 100 geriatric patients with dysphagia
admitted to the selected units and fulfilling the following criteria; age 60 years and more, with no
contraindication for oral feeding, able to maintain sitting position, able to communicate and available
at the time of data collection. Tools: Four tools were used for data collection: 1) Gugging Swallowing
Screen (GUSS), 2) Socio-demographic and clinical data of geriatric patients with dysphagia
structured interview schedule, 3) Factors associated with aspiration risk among geriatric patients with
dysphagia structured interview schedule, 4) Barthel Index. Results: Severe dysphagia with a high risk
of aspiration was observed in 37.0% of the study geriatric patients, while moderate dysphagia with a
risk of aspiration in 27.0% and those who had slight dysphagia with a low risk of aspiration in
36.0%.The severity of dysphagia and aspiration risk is affected significantly by living arrangement,
level of dependency, receiving chemotherapy treatment, mouth dryness and weak tongue movement as
a side effects of medication. Conclusion: The severity of dysphagia and aspiration risk were affected
by several factors as filing mouth with foods, feeling tired and fatigued during meals. Moreover,
dysphagia and aspiration risk were associated with illiteracy and specific medical diagnosis as
hypertension, heart failure and leukemia. Recommendations: Comprehensive assessment of geriatric
patients for dysphagia and aspiration risk should be a routine and basic procedure of the
gerontological nurse in order to identify early those at risk and implement appropriate nursing
interventions to prevent complications.

Keywords

Alexandria Scientific Nursing Journal
Volume 20, Issue 2
December 2018
Pages 29-50

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