Influence of rehabilitation for patients with dysphagia following stroke: observation of patients' nutriture and analysis of medical costs / 中华物理医学与康复杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective To explore the effects of comprehensive rehabilitation on nutriture and medical costs in the treatment of patients with dysphagia following stroke. Methods Eighty-seven patients with dysphagia were divided into an intervention group (IG) and a control group (CG). Comprehensive rehabilitation therapy including deglutition training, electric neuromuscular stimulation and acupuncture were used with the IG patients, but not with those in the CG. Nutriture parameters included a biochemistry index and a body measurement index. Medical costs were observed before and after one month of treatment for both groups. Results After one month of treatment, average deglutition scores and nutriture indices were significantly higher in the IG than in the CG. Medical costs for the IG had decreased significantly compared with the CG. Conclusions Comprehensive rehabilitation therapy improved deglutition function and slowed nutriture deterioration, while decreasing medical costs in the treatment of patients with dysphagia following stroke.