Common patterns of aspiration syndrome and factors associated with poor treatment outcomes

BACKGROUND: A review of over 200 publications from the past half-century has revealed that the symptoms of aspiration syndrome are currently not systematized in the literature, and the factors influencing patient treatment outcomes remain poorly studied.

AIM: To systematize certain patterns of aspiration syndrome and identify factors that worsen its treatment outcomes.

METHODS: An uncontrolled, open-label study was conducted using the medical records of patients hospitalized at the Saint Venerable Martyr Elizabeth City Hospital with a diagnosis of “aspiration syndrome.” The sample consisted of hospital cases. Outcome assessment was performed longitudinally. Patients were selected based on the discharge diagnosis and inclusion criteria. In the retrospective phase (2020–2023), patients in the comparison group were studied. In the retrospective-prospective phase (2022–2023), an original disease severity scale was applied for the analysis of the main group. The main patterns of aspiration syndrome and factors worsening treatment outcomes were identified.

RESULTS: The study material included the examination and treatment results of 102 patients. The study identified and systematized the patterns of aspiration syndrome according to disease severity. One non-modifiable risk factor for the development of aspiration syndrome was established: male sex in young, middle, and elderly age groups, and female sex in the old-age and long-livers groups. Modifiable factors of aspiration syndrome that worsen treatment outcomes were identified and systematized.

CONCLUSION: Despite the results described in this article, there remains a need for further study and detailed characterization of aspiration syndrome patterns, as well as for the identification of factors that negatively impact treatment outcomes in patients suffering from this syndrome.