Multidisciplinary Comprehensive Care for Early Recommencement of Oral Intake in Older Adults With Severe Pneumonia

The current study was designed to assess the effect of multi-disciplinary comprehensive care (MDCC) on (a) oral intake at discharge and (b) hospital stay duration in older adult patients with severe pneumonia. Participants were divided into two groups: receiving and not receiving MDCC. MDCC comprises regular assessment of swallowing ability, aspiration risk management, improvement of oral hygiene, serving of nutritious texture-modified foods, and encouragement of early mobilization. The MDCC group (164 women, 206 men; mean age = 82.7, SD = 8.4 years) had severe pneumonia as well as high proportions of poor premorbid physical function and consciousness disturbance compared to the non-MDCC group (45 women, 56 men; mean age = 81.1, SD = 8.6 years). Nevertheless, MDCC was an independent determinant of hospital stay duration and oral intake (Functional Oral Intake Scale score >= 4) at discharge with Cox regression analysis (hazard ratio = 1.42, 95% confidence interval [ 1.09, 1.85]). MDCC may promote early oral intake and hospital discharge in older adults with severe pneumonia.