Dr. Nicole Rogus-Pulia coauthors study on dysphagia care gaps among older pneumonia patients
In collaboration with the Department of Emergency Medicine
A new study co-led by Nicole Rogus-Pulia, PhD, associate professor and Linda Banov and Howard Stern Faculty Fellow in Dysphagia, Geriatrics and Gerontology, indicates that only one in four older adults hospitalized for pneumonia receives any evaluation for a swallowing dysfunction known as dysphagia.
“These findings show where the system breaks down,” says Dr. Rogus-Pulia. “Dysphagia is prevalent and can be addressed, but it is often overlooked. If we identify it early, we can help patients recover and avoid more serious or recurrent infections.”
The study—a collaborative effort with Michael Pulia, MD, PhD, associate professor, and other researchers in the University of Wisconsin BerbeeWalsh Department of Emergency Medicine (DEM)—evaluated hospital admissions data from 943 U.S. hospitals. It found that swallowing evaluations are not routinely provided as part of pneumonia care for older patients, even among patients at highest risk for aspiration and recurrent infection.
Dysphagia can directly cause aspiration pneumonia when food or liquid enters the lungs and triggers infection. Dysphagia may also worsen any type of pneumonia by increasing the risk of aspiration during recovery. This can lead to dehydration, malnutrition or reinfection—prolonging illness and contributing to poorer health outcomes. Early evaluation helps reduce complications, shorten hospital stays and support a safe return to eating.