Association Between Postextubation Dysphagia and Long-Term Mortality Among Critically Ill Older Adults

Dysphagia following extubation is common in intensive care unit (ICU) patients. Diagnosing postextubation dysphagia allows identification of patients who are at highest risk for aspiration and its associated adverse outcomes. Older adults are at an increased risk of postextubation dysphagia and its complications due to multiple comorbidities, a higher baseline risk of dysphagia, and increased risk of pneumonia.

We aimed to investigate the association between postextubation dysphagia and 1-year mortality in older patients. Secondary outcomes included ICU and hospital lengths of stay, ICU readmission, and place of discharge.

We performed a retrospective cohort study from January 1 to December 31, 2013. ICU patients, aged 65 years and older, who were successfully extubated and underwent a formal swallow evaluation by a speech and language pathologist (SLP) were included. Dysphagia was graded using a seven-point scale, and those with at least mild-moderate dysphagia were labeled as having clinically significant dysphagia.

Of 1075 patients who were screened, 359 were survivors, aged 65 years and older; and of these survivors, 111 had a swallow evaluation performed by an SLP after liberation from mechanical ventilation. Mean age was 73.8 years (SD = 7.0 years), and 41.4% had clinically significant dysphagia. In a multivariable regression model, there was no significant association between dysphagia and 1-year mortality. Furthermore, there was no statistically significant difference in ICU or hospital length of stay, ICU readmission, or place of discharge of those with clinically significant dysphagia compared to those without.

Among mechanically ventilated ICU patients, aged 65 years and older, who underwent a swallow evaluation following extubation, dysphagia was not associated with mortality, ICU and hospital lengths of stay, ICU readmission, and place of discharge. Given conflicting evidence in the literature, larger prospective studies are needed to clarify whether postextubation dysphagia is associated with worse outcomes in older patients admitted to the ICU. J Am Geriatr Soc 67:1895-1901, 2019.