Dysphagia Incidence and Comorbidity in Hospitalized Acute Stroke Patients

Introduction: There has been limited literature examined in a general population sample of the incidence of dysphagia in acute stroke patients, stroke patients with pneumonia and gastrostomy comorbidity, and the increased costs associated with the complications. Methods: The current study used Illinois Hospital Discharge data for in-patients admitted during September 2012 to June 2016 to investigate the incidence of dysphagia among patients who had a primary diagnosis of stroke. Sub-analysis of dysphagia incidence among stroke patients with co-morbidity pneumonia and gastrostomy was also performed. Results: The study found a 14.9% incidence of dysphagia in a population of hospitalized acute stroke patients. The rate of dysphagia was greater in the elderly and in blacks and Hispanics than whites. In stroke patients diagnosed with dysphagia, the incidence of pneumonia is 23.1% and the incidence of percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy (PEG) is 62.1%. Stroke patients with dysphagia had doubled length of hospital stay than those without dysphagia. With the co-morbid conditions of dysphagia and pneumonia or PEG tube placement, the length of hospital stay tripled. Increased length of hospital stay is associated with significantly higher healthcare cost. Conclusions: These findings suggested the importance of early detection and treatment of dysphagia in stroke population. International Journal of Cerebrovascular Disease and Stroke Ding R. Int J Cerebrovasc Dis Stroke 4: 140. www.doi.org/10.29011/2688-8734.000041 www.gavinpublishers.com