The Contribution of Temporal Flat Lateral Position on the Mortality and Discharge Rates of Older Patients with Severe Dysphagia

Akiko Shimizu, Ryuichi Ohta, Hana Otani and Chiaki Sano
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Akiko Shimizu: Department of Nursing, Unnan City Hospital, 96-1 Iida, Daito-cho, Unnan City 699-1221, Shimane, Japan
Ryuichi Ohta: Community Care, Unnan City Hospital, 96-1 Iida, Daito-cho, Unnan City 699-1221, Shimane, Japan
Hana Otani: Department of Rehabilitation, Unnan City Hospital, 96-1 Iida, Daito-cho, Unnan City 699-1221, Shimane, Japan
Chiaki Sano: Department of Community Medicine Management, Faculty of Medicine, Shimane University, 89-1 Enya cho, Izumo 693-8501, Shimane, Japan

IJERPH, 2021, vol. 18, issue 16, 1-9

Abstract: Severe dysphagia leads to mortality in older patients and hinders their discharge from hospitals. The temporal flat lateral position (TFLP) enables them to continuously eat, thus resolving the aforementioned issues. We aimed to explore the effect of TFLP on the mortality and discharge rates of older patients with severe dysphagia. This interventional study comprised a historical control of patients admitted to a rural community hospital from January 2019 to December 2020 and diagnosed with severe dysphagia. The primary outcomes included the mortality and the rate of discharge from the hospital. While the intervention group was treated with TFLP, the control group underwent no treatment. We selected 79 participants (intervention group = 26, control group = 53), with an average age of 87.9 years. The discharge rate was significantly higher in the intervention group than in the control group (57.7% vs. 26.4%, p = 0.012). The mortality rate was also significantly lower in the intervention group compared to the control group (34.6% vs. 71.7%, p = 0.003). TFLP can improve the discharge and mortality rates in community hospitals, thereby improving patient outcomes. Clinicians should focus on practical education and the implementation of TFLP in communities in order to promote it.

Keywords: dysphagia; temporal flat lateral position; TFLP; older adults; rehabilitation medicine (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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