Changes in nutritional state and dysphagia in stroke patients monitored during a 14-day period in a Burkina Faso hospital setting
Résumé
Introduction
Dysphagia and undernourishment are common in cerebrovascular accident (stroke) patients in developed countries. Despite the dietary transition, there is little information available in Africa on this topic. This study aims to assess the prevalence of undernourishment and dysphagia in stroke patients in two Burkina Faso teaching hospitals at a starting point (D0), on the 8th day and on the 14th (D14) and to specify factors related to undernourishment at day 14
Methodology
The nutritional state of the patients was assessed using BMI, Triceps skinfold thickness (TSF) and the mid-upper arm circumference. Dysphagia was identified using the Practical Aspiration Screening Schema.
Results
222 patients were included in the study. From D0 to D14, the prevalence of undernourishment increased from 25.2% to 31.0% and the prevalence of dysphagia decreased from 37.4% to 15.8%. All nutritional criteria worsened. In a multivariate analysis, undernourishment was more present at D14 for women (OR=7.01; 95% CI: 1.51–32.56, p=0.01), and was less present if weight (OR=0.69; 95% CI: 0.60–0.79, p=0.0001) or TSF (OR=0.85; 95% CI: 0.74–0.99, p=0.03) were high at D0.
Conclusion
The prevalence of undernourishment was high at D0 and increased during the monitoring period. It would be advisable to monitor patients' weight and TSF, to optimise care for women and patients with low weight or TSF at D0, to monitor dysphagia, and to inform patients, families and relevant staff of nutritional concerns after a cerebrovascular accident.