Abstract

Background: This study aims to explore the risk factors associated with the occurrence of communityacquired pneumonia (CAP) in elderly patients with nasogastric (NG) tubes receiving home care.

Methods: This retrospective study analyzedmedical charts of elderly patients receiving home care from January 2018 to December 2019. Multivariate logistic regression, with stepwise variable selection, investigated the link between gastrointestinal medications and CAP in elderly patients with nasogastric tubes in home care.

Results: In this analysis of 144 elderly patients in home care, the average age was 84.4 ± 7.6 years. Sixty-nine patients (47.9%) were hospitalized for CAP. The primary diagnoses were cerebral degenerative disorders (50, 34.7%), stroke (35, 24.3%), and cancer (26, 18.1%). The most frequently reported clinical symptoms and signs were altered consciousness, followed by fever and dyspnea. Multiple logistic regression analysis revealed that the significant predictors of hospitalized CAP among elderly patients receiving home care were male gender (odds ratio [OR] = 3.38, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.60–7.11, p = 0.001), primary diagnosis of cancer (OR = 0.30, 95% CI = 0.11–0.81, p = 0.009), impaired consciousness (OR = 2.81, 95% CI = 1.29–6.12, p = 0.009), polypharmacy (OR = 2.82, 95% CI = 1.15–6.90, p = 0.023), and a Do Not Resuscitate (DNR) signature (OR = 3.10, 95% CI = 1.17–8.22, p = 0.023).

Conclusion: In the present study, we identified male gender, impaired consciousness, excessive polypharmacy, and a signed DNR order as significant risk factors, while cancer was found to be a negative risk factor for CAP in elderly patients with nasogastric tubes.