| Dysphagia severity |  | ||
---|---|---|---|---|
Risk factors | None ( n = 72) | Mild ( n = 195) | Moderate or severe ( n = 179) | P value |
Age (years) | 50 ± 15 | 52 ± 17 | 54 ± 17 | 0.22 |
Male sex | 52 (72) | 108 (55) | 109 (61) | 0.04 |
Weight (kg) | 80 ± 20 | 83 ± 24 | 78 ± 23 | 0.10 |
Comorbidities, n (%) | Â | Â | Â | Â |
   Acute MI | 8 (11) | 20 (10) | 23 (13) | 0.73 |
   Heart failure | 15 (21) | 44 (23) | 28 (16) | 0.22 |
   COPD | 14 (19) | 34 (17) | 36 (20) | 0.80 |
   Diabetes mellitus | 19 (26) | 54 (28) | 41 (23) | 0.56 |
   OSA | 24 (33) | 63 (32) | 65 (36) | 0.71 |
   Pneumonia (before BSE) | 32 (44) | 69 (35) | 79 (44) | 0.17 |
SOFA score (without GCS score) | 3.5 [2 to 6] | 4 [2 to 5] | 3 [2 to 5] | 0.98 |
Tracheostomya | 3 (4) | 25 (13) | 50 (28) | <0.01 |
Endotracheal tube size, n (%) | Â | Â | Â | 0.17 |
   7.0 mm or less (n = 74) | 10 (14) | 39 (20) | 25 (15) |  |
   7.5 mm (n = 108) | 23 (32) | 38 (20) | 47 (28) |  |
   8.0 mm or greater (n = 251) | 39 (54) | 114 (60) | 98 (58) |  |
Intubated in ED, n (%) | 15 (21) | 28 (14) | 32 (18) | 0.41 |
Reintubation (before BSE), n (%)a | 10 (14) | 17 (9) | 43 (24) | <0.01 |
Ventilator days | 4 [2 to 7] | 6 [3 to 11] | 10 [5 to 17] | <0.01 |
Mechanical ventilation more than 7 days, n (%)a,b | 15 (21) | 77 (39) | 105 (59) | <0.01 |