Investigation on the risk of aspiration in hospitalized elderly patients and analysis of its influencing factors

To investigate the risk of aspiration in hospitalized elderly patients and analyze its related factors. A cluster sampling method was used to select aged patients over 80 years old who were hospitalized in 12 senior cadres wards of a hospital in Beijing from January to August 2024. General data questionnaire, daily living ability assessment scale and Standardized swallowing assessment(SSA) were used to investigate the patients. Perform logistic regression analysis on variables with statistical significance in univariate analysis to analyze the influencing factors of aspiration in hospitalized elderly patients.The level of signifcance was 5%. A total of 109 patients were investigated. 91 patients (83.5%) were found to have aspiration after evaluation by the Standardized swallowing assessment(SSA), including 18 patients (16.5%) with grade 1 aspiration risk and 58 patients (53.2%) with grade 2 aspiration risk. There were 18 patients (16.5%) with grade 3 aspiration risk and 15 patients (13.8%) with grade 4 aspiration risk. Grade 1 and grade 2 of aspiration risk were classified as low aspiration risk group, with 76 cases (69.7%). There were 33 cases (30.3%) in grade 3 and grade 4 as high aspiration risk group. Multivariate Logistic regression analysis showed that hypoproteinemia, sedative use and decreased self-care ability were the risk factors for aspiration (OR = 3.605, 2.899, 5.030; P < 0.05); Spousal support was a protective factor for aspiration risk (OR = 0.314; P < 0.05). The incidence of aspiration in hospitalized elderly patients is high, and factors affecting the risk of aspiration include hypoalbuminemia, sedative use, decreased self-care ability, and widowhood. This suggests that medical workers should pay attention to elderly patients who are widowed, hypoalbuminemia, sedative use, and partially self-care, in order to reduce the incidence of complications such as aspiration pneumonia and malnutrition, and improve the quality of life of elderly patients.