Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Weight Loss, Dysphagia, and Outcome in Advanced Dementia

  • Published:
Dysphagia Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract.

There has been much debate on the value and risks of long-term enteral feeding in patients with advanced dementia. A retrospective study was carried out on 47 patients with a primary diagnosis of dementia who died over a two-year period. All were inpatients in a nursing home or skilled nursing facility. Marked weight loss and dysphagia occurring in a specific pattern were found to be associated with death from pneumonia. These clinical features probably imply failure of basic homeostatic mechanisms. Patients showing this clinical pattern may be less likely to show benefits from long-term enteral feeding.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Sisters of Charity at Ottawa Hospital, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada, , , , , , CA

    Jean Chouinard, Erika Lavigne & Carole Villeneuve

Authors
  1. Jean Chouinard
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Erika Lavigne
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Carole Villeneuve
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Chouinard, J., Lavigne, E. & Villeneuve, C. Weight Loss, Dysphagia, and Outcome in Advanced Dementia. Dysphagia 13, 151–155 (1998). https://doi.org/10.1007/PL00009565

Download citation

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/PL00009565

Search

Navigation