Article

OBJECTIVE: To analyse the 9-year trend in oral intake ability 3 months after
onset in acute stroke patients, with a view to indirect clarification of advances
in acute stroke treatment and swallowing rehabilitation.
METHODS: A database of
patients admitted to our hospital (Saiseikai Kumamoto Hospital, Kumamoto) with
acute ischaemic stroke between 2003 and 2011 was analysed. Exclusion criteria
were: patients with premorbid modified Rankin Scale score >/= 1; those who died
during hospital stay; and those whose outcomes after 3 months were not recorded.
Mode of nutritional intake was investigated with a questionnaire posted to the
patient 3 months after stroke onset. Patients were divided into 2 groups
according to mode of nutritional intake: an oral intake group and a non-oral
intake group. Whether the date or year of admission were related to the
proportion of patients with oral intake, independent of other factors, was
investigated using a logistic regression model.
RESULTS: Of a total of 2,913
patients, 2,677 (91.9%) were included in the oral intake group. The proportion of
patients with oral intake 3 months after stroke increased significantly over the
period of analysis (p = 0.034 by Cochran-Armitage test). On logistic regression
analysis, the trend was significant after adjustment for age, sex, vascular risk
factors, stroke subtype, and stroke severity on admission (odds ratio 1.098, 95%
confidence interval 1.029-1.173; per 1 year). CONCLUSION:
The proportion of
ischaemic stroke patients in the institution studied who were capable of oral
intake at 3 months post-stroke increased significantly over the past decade,
independent of other patient characteristics.

Langue : ANGLAIS