FACTORS ASSOCIATED WITH ORAL INTAKE ABILITY IN PATIENTS WITH ACUTE-STAGE STROKE.

Objective: To investigate the factors predicting oral feeding ability following acute stroke.

Methods: This retrospective study compared patients admitted to a stroke care unit in 2 groups: an oral intake group and a tube feeding group. The groups were evaluated for 28 items and initial blood investigation tests, and the results compared. Logistic regression analysis was used to identify the clinical variables significantly associated with oral feeding ability.

Results: A total of 255 stroke patients (162 in the oral intake group and 93 in the tube feeding group) were admitted to the stroke care unit. Significant differences were observed between the 2 groups for 20 items. Logistic analysis found that the following variables were significant in the prediction model: age, date of initiation of oral feeding, stroke recurrence/patient deterioration during hospitalization, and date of initiation of occupational therapy.

Conclusion: Factors associated with achieving oral intake among stroke care unit patients were: young age at time of admission; starting oral intake early; no stroke recurrence/patient deterioration during hospitalization; and achieving rehabilitation of daily activities early during the physical function recovery stage.