Factors associated with aspiration pneumonia and preventive measures in hospitalized elderly: a systematic review of observational studies

ABSTRACT Purpose: to identify associated factors and preventive measures for aspiration pneumonia in hospitalized elderly patients. Methods: the PPOT (population, predictor, outcome, and type of study) was the strategy used to define the eligibility criteria: (1) Population: people over 60 years of age; (2) predictor: hospitalized patients (3) Outcomes: associated factors and measures to prevent aspiration pneumonia; (4) Type of study: Observational Studies (transversal and case-control). We performed the data collection in the PubMed, Lilacs, Scielo, Google Scholar, Science Direct, and Web of Science databases. Observational studies on factors associated with aspiration pneumonia and preventive measures in the elderly, without language restriction and available in full, were included. Data on authors/year/country, objective, methodology, sample, and results, were collected. The risk of bias was assessed, according to the JBI Critical Appraisal Checklist. Results: a case-control and two cross-sectional studies were analyzed. One paper presented a smaller sample with 86 patients, and another presented a larger sample comprising 443 patients. The median age was 77 years old. Conclusion: factors such as severe stroke, dysphagia, advanced age, male gender, coronary heart disease, lower Glasgow coma scale score, use of mechanical ventilation for more than 48 hours, and aspiration of colonized gastric juice were associated with aspiration pneumonia.