Objectives: Oropharyngeal dysphagia is a geriatric syndrome that is usually underdiagnosed in older patients. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence and identify the main risk factors of dysphagia in the oldest old patients admitted to an acute geriatric unit. Design: Observational prospective study. Setting and Participants: Older patients admitted to an acute geriatric unit of a university hospital. Measures: 329 patients (mean age 93.5 years, range 81-106) were assessed for oropharyngeal dysphagia within 48 hours of hospital admission using the Volume-Viscosity Swallow Test. Demographic characteristics, geriatric assessment, geriatric syndromes, comorbidities, drug treatment, and complications were examined to determine their association with the presence of dysphagia. Results: Oropharyngeal dysphagia was present in 271 (82.4%) of the participants. Multivariate logistic regression showed that malnutrition [odds ratio (OR) 3.62, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.01-12.93; P ¼ .048], admission for respiratory infection (OR 2.89, 95% CI 1.40-5.94; P ¼ .004), delirium (OR 2.89, 95% CI 1.40-5.94; P ¼ .004), severe dependency (OR 3.23, 95% CI 1.23-8.87; P ¼ .017), and age (OR 1.11, 95% CI 1.01-1.21; P ¼ .03) were significantly associated with dysphagia. The use of a calcium antagonist at the time of admission was associated with a reduced risk of dysphagia (OR 0.39, 95% CI 0.16-0.92; P ¼ .03). Conclusions and Implications: The prevalence of oropharyngeal dysphagia is high in the oldest old patients admitted to an acute geriatric unit when assessed with an objective diagnostic method. Our findings suggest that objective swallowing assessment should be routinely performed on admission in order to start early interventions to avoid complications of dysphagia in this complex population.

Oropharyngeal dysphagia (OD) is associated with adverse outcomes that require a multidisciplinary approach with different strategies. Our aim was to assess the adherence of older patients to dysphagia management recommendations during hospitalization, after a specific nurse guided dysphagia education intervention and to identify short term complications of OD and their relationship with short-term adherence. We carried out a prospective observational study in an acute and an orthogeriatric unit of a university hospital over ten months with a one-month follow-up. Four hundred and forty-seven patients (mean age 92 years, 70.7% women) were diagnosed with dysphagia using Volume-Viscosity Swallow Test (V-VST). Compensatory measures and individualized recommendations were explained in detail by trained nurse. Therapeutic adherence was directly observed during hospital admission, after an education intervention, and self-reported after one-month. We also recorded the following reported complications at one month, including respiratory infection, use of antibiotics, weight loss, transfers to the emergency department, or hospitalization). Postural measures and liquid volume were advised to all patients, followed by modified texture food (95.5%), fluid thickeners (32.7%), and delivery method (12.5%). The in-hospital compliance rate with all recommendations was 37.1% and one-month after hospital discharge was 76.4%. Both compliance rates were interrelated and were lower in patients with dementia, malnutrition, and safety signs. Higher compliance rates were observed for sitting feeding and food texture, and an increase in adherence after discharge in the liquid volume and use of thickeners. Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that adherence to recommendations during the month after discharge was associated with lower short-term mortality and complications (i.e., respiratory infection, use of antibiotics, weight loss, transfers to the emergency department, or hospitalization). One-third of our participants followed recommendations during hospitalization and three-quarters one month after admission, with higher compliance for posture and food texture. Compliance should be routinely assessed and fostered in older patients with dysphagia.

Background oropharyngeal dysphagia (OD) and hip fracture are common problems in older patients, both associated with important complications. Objective the aim of this study was to measure the prevalence and identify the main risk factors of dysphagia in older patients with hip fracture. Design a prospective study in an orthogeriatric unit of a university hospital over 10 months. Methods a total of 320 patients (mean age 86.2 years, 73.4% women) were assessed for dysphagia within 72 hours post-surgery using the Volume-Viscosity Swallow Test. Geriatric assessment, hip fracture management and complications were examined to determine their relationship with the presence of OD. Results dysphagia was present in 176 (55%) patients. Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that the presence of delirium during hospitalization and the inability to perform instrumental activities of daily living before admission were associated with OD. Conclusions the prevalence of OD is high in hip fracture patients. Objective dysphagia assessment should be routinely included as part of the geriatric assessment of such patients.