Acquisition of oral intake in severely dysphagic patients with acute stroke: A single-center, observational study involving a database of 4972 consecutive stroke patients

Abstract

ObjectiveA single-center, observational study was performed to identify the predictors for oral intake 3months after onset in stroke patients with severe dysphagia. MethodsOf 4972 consecutive acute stroke patients, 723 could not eat orally on day 10. Three months after onset, a questionnaire was sent to all patients. Those who survived and replied to the questionnaire were divided into 2 groups, and the clinical factors that predicted their acquisition of oral intake were analyzed. ResultsOf the 586 dysphagic patients who responded, 141 (24.2%) achieved oral intake after 3months. On logistic-regression model analysis, age ≤80years, hyperlipidemia, non-cardioembolic stroke, modified Rankin Scale score 0 before onset, and National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) score were independently related to oral intake 3months after onset. From two different model analyses, NIHSS score ≤17 on day 10 (OR 3.58, 95% CI, 2.35–5.54) was found to be a stronger predictor for oral intake than NIHSS score ≤17 on admission (OR 2.17, 95% CI, 1.40–3.39). ConclusionIn severely dysphagic acute stroke patients, functional independence at baseline, younger age, absence of hyperlipidemia, non-cardioembolic stroke, and a milder NIHSS score on day 10 are useful predictors of the resumption of oral intake.