Swallowing function and its related factors in elderly people in welfare homes of Wenzhou City

ObjectiveTo understand the swallowing function of the elderly in welfare homes of Wenzhou City，Zhejiang Province and to analyze the related factors of swallowing dysfunction.

MethodsA total of 507 elderly people aged 60 years and over were surveyed by questionnaires in three welfare homes of Wenzhou City from January 2018 to January 2020.Hinds time-limited water drinking test was used to screen dysphagia. Multivariate unconditional logistic regression analysis was used to analyze the related factors of swallowing dysfunction.

ResultsThe incidence of swallowing dysfunction was 26.04% （132 out of 507）. Univariate analysis showed that there were significant differences in the incidence of swallowing dysfunction among the elderly in terms of age， spouse condition， self-care ability， health status， taking sleeping pills， cerebrovascular disease， nervous system disease and depression （P<0.05）. Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that the following factors were related to swallowing dysfunction among the elderly： age ≥80 years old， taking sleeping pills， cerebrovascular diseases， nervous system diseases and depression.

ConclusionThe incidence of swallowing dysfunction in elderly people in welfare homes of Wenzhou City is high， especially those aged ≥80 years who need more attention. In addition， taking sleeping pills， cerebrovascular diseases， nervous system diseases and depression all increase the risk of swallowing dysfunction. Corresponding preventive and intervention measures should be formulated.