Aural stimulation with capsaicin prevented pneumonia in dementia patients.

OBJECTIVE

In the present study, we examined the effects of daily application of capsaicin ointment to the external auditory canal for 6 months on the development of pneumonia in elderly dementia patients at high risk of aspiration.

METHODS

Twenty-nine oldest-old bedridden dementia inpatients at high risk of aspiration were enrolled in the present study. Ointment containing 0.025% capsaicin was applied to each external auditory canal with a cotton swab alternatively once a day for 6 months.

RESULTS

The incidence of pneumonia during the 6 months before the intervention was 1.80±0.37 in these patients. However, this incidence significantly decreased to 0.40±0.29 (p<0.01) during the 6 months of the alternative application of capsaicin ointment to each auditory canal. No adverse effect such as otalgia was observed.

CONCLUSION

These findings suggest that daily long-term aural stimulation with capsaicin ointment enhanced the cough reflex via Arnold's ear-cough reflex as a glottis protective measure, resulting in the reduction of incidence of pneumonia in elderly dementia patients at high risk of aspiration. The daily aural stimulation with capsaicin ointment may be a safe and promising intervention to prevent aspiration pneumonia in elderly people, especially those who cannot undergo swallowing exercise.