Risk factors for aspiration pneumonia in home care patients

Aspiration pneumonia is both a form of community-acquired and healthcare-associated pneumonia, and a leading cause of death among ageing populations. Home care comprises services for older people with disabilities, including chronic degenerative diseases. This study evaluated the risk factors for Aspiration Pneumonia in patients who were at Home care service in a facility in Salvador, northeast Brazil. This is a case-control study, in which 89 patients were included, of which 33 corresponded to cases (pneumonia with bronchoaspiration) and 56 corresponded to controls (pneumonia without bronchoaspiration). Each case was paired with at least one control.After submission to a final logistic regression model, the following factors: Change in the level of consciousness and use of proton pump inhibitors and histamine H2 receptor antagonists, considering p <0.05, were presented as independent predictors for pneumonia bronchial aspiration (OR 5,293; 95% CI 1.809 - 15.488) and (OR 13.037; 95% CI 2.415 - 70.378), respectively.There was an association between increasing age and the presence of neurological disorders with the development of aspiration pneumonia, in addition to altering the level of consciousness and the use of medications, such as proton pump inhibitors and histamine H2 receptor antagonists.