Association of nutritional support with survival-time in hospitalized older patients with dysphagia: a retrospective study

Dysphagia results from age-related changes in swallowing physiology and contributes to various health status changes, including higher risks for malnutrition, pneumonia, and mortality [1, 2]. It also occurs in age-related diseases, including stroke [3] and cancer [4], and progressive neurological diseases, such as dementia [5] and Parkinson ’s disease [6]. These associations, and global aging, have increased the importance of dysphagia management. Artificial nutrition can support patients with dysphagia caused by various clinical conditions. Percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy (PEG) is an artificial nutrition method that secures an e nteral nutrition (EN) route in dysphagia patients [7]. PEG tubes have been widely used in Japan as a convenient and effective EN route since approximately 1990; however, the use of PEG feeding in dementia patients is controversial [8-10]. Total parenteral nutrition (TPN) is an alternative nutritiona l management method [11] and has been the most frequently used nutritional support method in Japan since 2010. A comparison of long-term outcomes associated with PEG feeding and TPN in older patients found that older patients, and those with poorer nutritional status and severe dementia, were more l ikely to receive TPN, whereas patients with cerebrovascular disease were more likely to receive PEG [12]. A 2012 Japan Geriatric Society position statement on end-of-life care for older adults suggested that patients’ families or caregivers should deci...
Source: Annals of Nutrition and Metabolism - Category: Nutrition Source Type: research