Effectiveness of an Optimal-Massive Intervention in Older Patients With Dysphagia

The aim of this study is to evaluate the efficacy of an optimal-massive intervention (OMI) based on increasing shear viscosity of fluids, nutritional support with oral nutritional supplements (ONS) and triple adaptation of food (rheological and textural, caloric and protein and organoleptic) and oral hygiene improvement on the incidence of respiratory infections in older patients with OD. We have designed a randomized clinical trial, with two parallel arms and 6 months follow-up. The study population will be constituted by older patients of 70 years or more with OD hospitalized at Hospital de Mataró by an acute process that will be identified by using the volume-viscosity swallow clinical test. We will consecutively recruit 500 subjects during admission (Geriatrics, Internal medicine, etc.) at the Hospital de Mataró. Patients included will be randomly assigned to one of both interventional groups: a) study intervention: multifactorial intervention based on fluid viscosity adaptation (with a xanthan gum thickener -\> Nutilis Clear®), nutritional support with a triple adaptation of food (texture, caloric and protein content, organoleptic) + pre-thickened ONS and evaluation and treatment of oral hygiene (tooth brushing + antiseptic mouthwashes + professional dental cleaning), or b) control intervention: standard clinical practice (fluid adaptation with Nutilis Powder and simple texture adaptation for solids). Main outcome measures: respiratory infection incidence during the 6-month period follow-up. Secondary outcomes: mortality at 6 months, general hospital readmissions and readmissions due to respiratory infections, nutritional status, hydration status, quality of life, functional status, oral hygiene and dysphagia severity and its relationship with other study variables.