Early tube feeding reduces deaths in stroke patients with swallowing difficulties FOOD Trial concludes

New research published in the latest edition of Stroke News demonstrates that feeding stroke patients with swallowing problems as soon as possible can help to reduce deaths from the condition.

150,000 people in the UK have a stroke each year and half of those experience swallowing difficulties. The research also found that feeding patients through a tube via the nose is much better than directly through the abdomen in the early stages after the stroke, because it helps to reduce the risk of the patient becoming disabled.

The FOOD (Feed Or Ordinary Diet) Trials are the largest ever multicentre international trials researching feeding policy for patients with stroke. Part funded by The Stroke Association and led by Professor Martin Dennis (Professor of Stroke Medicine in Edinburgh), the objective was to identify the best way of feeding stroke patients to increase chances of good recovery.

50% of stroke patients are unable to swallow on admission to hospital and 11% still have swallowing problems six months post stroke. Until now there has been little agreement between doctors about the best way to feed patients after stroke.

One of the trials monitored 859 patients from 83 hospitals in 15 countries for a period of six months. The findings concluded that early tube feeding in stroke patients with swallowing difficulties did reduce the risk of dying. However, the next trial looked at the best methods of tube feeding and found that feeding through the nose should be the chosen method rather than abdominal tube feeding which increases the patient’s risk of severe disability.

A further trial looking at the use of oral supplements to prevent and treat undernutrition in stroke patients in hospital concluded that such supplements should not be given routinely to all patients but probably only to those who are undernourished.

“This research is very important,” said Joanne Knight, Director of Research and Development at The Stroke Association. “Stroke is the UK’s third biggest killer and the largest single cause of severe disability in the UK, with over a quarter of a million people being affected at any one time.

Previous surveys of feeding practices after stroke have recorded a lot of variation between hospitals in the UK, especially in the type and timing of tube feeding used. We hope this research will lead to changes in clinical practice which could reduce the likelihood of long-term disability for thousands of people and help save vital resources within the Health Service.”

To read more about this and other features in the latest edition of Stroke News, call 01604 623 933 or e-mail strokenews@stroke.org.uk

ENDS
For further information please contact the Media Team at The Stroke Association on 020 7566 1500 or email press@stroke.org.uk

Notes to editor

1.Each year over 150,000 people in the UK have a stroke. Of all people who suffer from a stroke, about a third are likely to die within the first 10 days, about a third are likely to make a recovery within one month and about a third are likely to be left disabled and needing rehabilitation. Stroke has a greater disability impact than any other medical condition. A quarter of a million people are living with long-term disability as a result of stroke in the UK.

2.The Stroke Association is the only national charity solely concerned with combating stroke in people of all ages. It funds research into prevention, treatment and better methods of rehabilitation and helps stroke patients and their families directly through its community services. These include dysphasia support, family support, information services, welfare grants, publications and leaflets. We also campaign, educate and inform to increase knowledge of stroke at all levels of society and we act as a voice for everyone affected by stroke.

3.A stroke happens when the blood supply to the brain is disrupted. Most strokes occur when a blood clot blocks the flow of blood to the brain. Some strokes are caused by bleeding in or around the brain from a burst blood vessel. When the blood supply is disrupted, parts of the brain become damaged or destroyed. Some strokes are fatal whist others can cause permanent or temporary paralysis to one side of the body and loss of the ability to speak, read or write. Recovery may be slow and can vary from person to person.

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