Abstract: Objective To investigate the features of eating difficulties in acute stroke patients, and its related factors. Methods From April to June, 2016, 192 stroke patients within 30 days were conveniently sampled, and investigated with a questionnaire about eating difficulties. Results The total rate of eating difficulties was 66.67% (including 15 nasal feeding patients). Among the 177 patients with oral feeding, the incidence of eating difficulties was 113, including 66 with feeding difficulties, 28 with dysphagia, and 91 with loss of energy and appetite, while there were 19 patients reporting all the problems above. The incidence of eating difficulties was various with the National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) scores, Drinking Test scores, aphasia, prosopoplegia, stay in bed, eating assistance, activities of daily living (ADL) score, and oral health score (P<0.05). Myodynamia of upper limbs and ages also related with eating difficulties (P<0.05). The nutrition score of patients with eating difficulties was lower than those patients without eating difficulties. NIHSS score, eating assistance, ADL score, oral health score were the independent factors related with eating difficulties through multiple linear regression.Conclusion Eating difficulties are common in acute stroke patients, not only from dysphagia, but also about feeding difficulties and loss of energy and appetite. High NIHSS score, eating assistance, lower ADL score, bad oral health condition are the related factors of eating difficult, which may result in nutrition problems.

Key words: stroke, eating difficulties, related factors, nutrition