Investigation on dysphagia and aspiration among the elderly in nursing home in Weifang, Shandong, China / 中国康复理论与实践

ABSTRACT

@#Objective To investigate the occurrence and characteristics of dysphagia and aspiration in the elderly in nursing home in Weifang, Shandong, China.Methods From January to June, 2021, 837 elderly people from 10 nursing homes in Weifang were randomly selected and investigated with general situation questionnaire, Fried Frailty Phenotype, Ohkuma questionnaire and Volume-Viscosity Swallowing Test.Results The prevalence of dysphagia and aspiration was 44.2% and 12.3% respectively. There were significant differences in the prevalence of dysphagia among ages and health condition (χ2 > 8.437, P<0.05). The prevalence of dysphagia and aspiration was higher in men than in women (χ2 > 4.060, P < 0.05). The incidence of oral dysphagia was higher in men than in women, and the incidence of esophageal dysphagia was lower (χ2 > 20.830, P<0.001). Oral dysphagia was predominant in the elderly with stroke, Alzheimer's disease, and Parkinson's disease (χ2=27.579, P<0.001), and esophageal dysphagia and airway protection dysfunction were predominant in the elderly with chronic respiratory disease (χ2 > 20.241, P<0.01).Conclusion The dysphagia and aspiration are prevalent in the elderly in nursing homes, and varies with different genders and basic diseases.