Evaluation of Dysphagia and Malnutrition in Older Patients with Stroke

Purpose: The study was aimed at investigating the dysphagia and malnutrition status in individuals with stroke and determining the relationship between the variables. Material and Methods: The sample of this descriptive and analytical study consisted of 180 individuals with stroke who met the inclusion criteria, and who were treated in the neurology inpatient clinic of a state hospital. Data were collected using the Descriptive Information Form, Eating Assessment Tool-10, Bedside Water Swallowing Assessment Test, Mini Nutritional Assessment Form and Modifiye Barthel Index. Results: The mean age of the participants was 74.40±6.87 years. According to the results of the Eating Assessment Tool-10 and Bedside Water Swallowing Assessment Test, approximately 73% of them experienced dysphagia. The mean score the participants obtained from the Mini Nutritional Assessment Form was 15.41±5.01 and 64.4% of them were diagnosed with malnutrition. There was a very high level negative relationship between the scores the participants obtained from the Mini Nutritional Assessment Form, and the scores they obtained from the Eating Assessment Tool-10 (r=-0.806, p