Abstract: ObjectiveTo investigate the incidence and correlative risk factors of aspiration in Alzheimer disease (AD) patients with aspiration pneumonia. MethodsData of 88 cases with AD were retrospectively investigated. Several possible correlative risk factors were analyzed with multiple Logistic regression. Results38 cases with AD complicated aspiration pneumonia during the observation period [average (3.51±0.25) years].The total average annual incidence of aspiration pneumonia in AD was 12.3%. The annual incidence of aspiration pneumonia in mild AD, moderate AD and severe AD were 11.1%,12.3%,17.6% respectively.The correlative risk factors of aspiration in AD patients with aspiration pneumonia were severity of AD,application of neurosedatives, silent bilateral basal ganglia lacunar infarction (SBI), decrease of activity of daily living (ADL) and leukoaraiosis (LA). ConclusionAspiration pneumonia is a common complication occurring not only in severe AD but also in mild and moderate AD.

Key words: aspiration pneumonia, incidence, Alzheimer's disease, risk factors