PLoS One. 2026 Feb 12;21(2):e0342253. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0342253. eCollection 2026.
ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the efficacy of the Multimodal Aspiration Prevention System (MAPS) in reducing aspiration incidence, preventing pneumonia, and improving swallowing function in stroke rehabilitation patients.
METHODS: A before-after controlled study was conducted involving 855 stroke rehabilitation patients (408 in the MAPS intervention group, 447 in the historical control group). The intervention group received MAPS, including a three-tier risk warning system, standardized intervention procedures, and multidisciplinary collaboration, while the control group received conventional care. Primary outcomes included overt aspiration incidence, with secondary outcomes assessing stroke-associated pneumonia rates, swallowing function improvement, psychological status, and patient satisfaction.
RESULTS: The MAPS group demonstrated a significantly lower incidence of overt aspiration compared to control group (p < 0.05), with complete elimination of aspiration events achieved by the second month of implementation. Secondary outcomes revealed clinically meaningful improvements following MAPS adoption: stroke-associated pneumonia rates decreased substantially (p < 0.05), psychological assessments indicated significant alleviation of anxiety and depression symptoms (p < 0.05), and patient satisfaction scores reached 99.2%. Although swallowing function showed numerical improvement in the MAPS group, the difference did not reach statistical significance when compared to the control group (p > 0.05).
CONCLUSION: MAPS effectively reduces aspiration and pneumonia risks while enhancing psychological well-being and patient satisfaction in stroke rehabilitation. Its closed-loop management model demonstrates clinical applicability. Further multicenter studies are warranted to validate long-term benefits.
PMID:41678463 | DOI:10.1371/journal.pone.0342253