title: The incidence and prognostic implications of dysphagia in elderly patients institutionalized: A multicenter study in Spain.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Determine the incidence of dysphagia, identify its consequences and objectify related complications and mortality associated with pneumonia, in the institutionalized elderly.
  
  
  METHODS
  A prospective observational and multicenter study with a 3-year follow-up period was designed in a cohort of 12 nursing homes within 6 cities in Spain. A total of 2384 patient records were studied. Demographic and clinical data (dementia, cerebrovascular disease), as well as an evaluation of the Barthel Index, dysphagia and aspiration, and mortality at 30 days and 1 year after pneumonia in patients with dysphagia were collected.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of the 2384 patients, 69.6% presented clinical signs of oropharyngeal dysphagia. Patients with dysphagia were older and showed lower functional status and higher prevalence of comorbidities. They had higher mortality as well.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Oropharyngeal dysphagia is a highly prevalent clinical finding in elderly institutionalized patients. Among this population, there is also a higher prevalence of pneumonia, dementia, and cerebrovascular disease and pneumonia is an indicator of mortality.
authors.affiliation: Deparment of Nursing, University of Cantabria, Cantabria, Spain. Electronic address: carmen.sarabia@unican.es.
authors.forename: Carmen M
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Sarabia-Cobo
authors.affiliation: CR Santa Lucía, Madrid, Spain.
authors.forename: Victoria
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Pérez
authors.affiliation: CR Santa Lucía, Madrid, Spain.
authors.forename: Pablo
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: de Lorena
authors.affiliation: CR Santa Lucía, Madrid, Spain.
authors.forename: Esther
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Domínguez
authors.affiliation: CR Santa Lucía, Madrid, Spain.
authors.forename: Carmen
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Hermosilla
authors.affiliation: CR Santa Lucía, Madrid, Spain.
authors.forename: M José
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Nuñez
authors.affiliation: CR Santa Lucía, Madrid, Spain.
authors.forename: María
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Vigueiro
authors.affiliation: Hospital Gregorio Marañón, Madrid, Spain.
authors.forename: Luis
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Rodríguez
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D017332:Cetirizine; D003680:Deglutition Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D007297:Inpatients; D008297:Male; D009735:Nursing Homes; D011379:Prognosis; D011446:Prospective Studies; D013030:Spain
chemical_list: C472067:levocetirizine; D017332:Cetirizine
keywords: Aspiration pneumonia; Clinical screening; Dysphagia; Elderly; Nursing care; Nursing home