High Incidence of Aspiration Pneumonia in Community‐ and Hospital‐acquired Pneumonia in Hospitalized Patients: A Multicenter, Prospective Study in Japan

Abstract

We nonetheless take the opportunity to remark on this point that there is no high-level evidence of which vitamin D metabolites are safer and faster in normalizing sHPTH, and more importantly, the optimal dose of vitamin D3 capable of normalizing rapidly sHPTH is still being discussed and has not been established. In addition, a number of studies have demonstrated that the commonly used doses of vitamin D ( 800 UI daily), also suggested by the drug industry, may fail to normalize PTH levels in older adults with sHPTH. 8,9 The choice of calcitriol in the experimental design of our study was based mainly on the need to use a treatment that could rapidly resolve sHPTH and on the lack of available preparation of vitamin D3 at high concentrations in Italy at the time of the study.In conclusion, although we agree with the statement that plain vitamin D is the treatment of choice for vitamin D deficiency, we disagree with the interpretation of the manuscript given by Dr. Vieth, because the goal of identifying a treatment of choice for sHPTH was outside the scope of our study, whose most relevant outcome consists instead of the observation that persistence of sHPTH reduces BMD response to alendronate. To respond to the issue raised by Dr. Vieth, RCTs are needed to assess the vitamin D metabolite of choice in normalizing PTH.

New Lessons of Nurturing Life for Geriatric Patients

“…Aspiration pneumonia accounts for 80% of elderly pneumonia patients (Teramoto et al 2008), and occurs in two forms (Mark 2001). One is silent aspiration pneumonia, and the other is vomiting aspiration pneumonia, which develops when the patient vomits and inhales some of the stomach contents into the lungs.…”

Dysphagia, dystussia, and aspiration pneumonia in elderly people

“…With aging, the ratio of aspiration pneumonia among cases of hospitalized pneumonia is increasing dramatically (9). Therefore, in pneumonia treatment in the elderly, we should think of the treatment for aspiration pneumonia rather than where patients are infected.…”

Swallowing Function Improvement Effect of Ginger <i>(Zingiber officinale)</i>

“…In addition, there is a risk of respiratory aspiration of food and drink, which increases the risk of developing pneumonia. Pneumonia is the leading cause of death in elderly people and in a number of cases is thought to be caused by aspiration (Teramoto et al, 2008). Dysphagia removes the pleasure from eating and greatly reduces the quality of life.…”