Background and Objectives: Respiratory diseases account for 55.5% and 33.1% of all mortality rates in patients with Alzheimer’s disease and vascular dementia, respectively. However, the widespread use of spirometers is often difficult due to challenges in performing the procedure. Therefore, the use of spirometers is usually unfeasible in patients with dementia and hinders the provision of preventive measures for aspiration pneumonia. The party horn is a common toy in many countries and can potentially be used as a novel tool. This study was conducted to analyze the usefulness of the party horn as an assessment tool for respiratory function, and to detect eating-related behavioral problems in patients with dementia. Materials and Methods: A total of 62 inpatient participants with dementia (34 males, 28 females; age, mean ± SD, 80.4 ± 7.59 years) were included in the study. The respiratory functions of patients were assessed using a party horn and a spirometer. Assessment items pertaining to cognitive function, mental and behavioral disorders, eating-related behavioral problems, and the required dietary modifications were evaluated to compare between patient groups stratified by respiratory function. Results: Significant differences between groups were noted in length of hospital stay, cognitive functions, mental and behavioral disorders, eating-related behavioral problems, and dietary modifications. Forced expiratory volume in 1 s, peak expiratory flow, and eating-related behavioral problems were significantly associated with the party-horn-integrated value (p < 0.05). Conclusions: Party-horn-based evaluation can facilitate the screening and evaluation of older dementia patients for eating-related behavioral problems and aspiration risk.
Keywords: Alzheimer’s disease; aspiration pneumonia; deglutition; dementia; dietary modification; party horn; rehabilitation; respiratory function; spirometer; vascular dementia.