Profile of patients undergoing speech-language therapy in a physical and rehabilitation medicine hospital service

ABSTRACT

Purpose:

to analyze the profile and risk factors of patients attended by speech therapists in a hospital service of physical and rehabilitation medicine (P&RM) of the public health system.

Methods:

a retrospective cohort study was carried out. The variables were summarized using frequencies, proportions, and measures of central tendency. Relative risks (RR) were estimated, using the incidence ratio (IC:95%) and the bilateral Fisher's exact test. A level of significance was considered p <0.05.

Results:

23,365 speech therapy activities distributed in 8,416 sessions were carried out between September 2016 to September 2018, with patients admitted to a P&RM service. The activities focused people over 60 years in the areas of swallowing (28.6%) and cognition (11.7%). Age equal to or greater than 60 years was identified as a risk factor for admission, due to cerebrovascular disease of 1.36 (95% CI: 1.24-1.49; p = 0.001), and belonging to section B of the National Health Fund (FONASA), 1.37 (95% CI: 1.29-1.46, p = 0.001). The RR for respiratory pathology was greater in the winter period: 1.63 (95% CI: 1.50-1.76; p = 0.001).

Conclusion:

elderly and low-income people are more likely to need speech therapy rehabilitation in the context of P&RM service.

Keywords:
Speech, Language and Hearing Sciences; Professional Practice; Physical and Rehabilitation Medicine; Aging; Risk Factors