Factors associated with the level of oral intake in hospitalized older adults with dysphagia: The importance of mental activity

Summary Background and aims Dysphagia is a highly prevalent condition in hospitalized older adults. One major consequence of dysphagia is reduced oral intake due to difficulty in safe and/or efficient swallowing. The aim of the present study was to explore the factors associated with the level of oral intake in older adults with dysphagia. Methods The subjects were enrolled from older patients admitted to an acute hospital presenting with dysphagia, consisting of 36 patients (16 men and 20 women) with a mean age of 88.1 years. Level of oral intake was evaluated with the Food Intake Level Scale (FILS). Mental function was measured with the vitality index (as a measure of mental vitality related to activities of daily living) and a comprehension scale. Physical ability was evaluated with a mobility index. Nutritional status was assessed with the Mini Nutritional Assessment short-form. Results The FILS had significant correlations with the vitality index (r s  = 0.49, p = 0.002), comprehension scale (r s  = 0.49. p = 0.002), mobility index (r s  = 0.42, p = 0.010), and MNA-SF score (r s  = 0.37, p = 0.025). Although patients with dementia tended to have lower scores compared with those without dementia, there were no significant differences between the two groups except for the comprehension scale (p = 0.001). Conclusion The results showed associations between the level of food intake and the mental, physical, and nutritional status in hospitalized older adults with dysphagia.