Press Release

Effects of Oral Management on Elderly Patients with Pneumonia

Published: August 18, 2021

Abstract

Objectives
In this study, we examined the factors influencing the presence or absence of dental intervention in patients with pneumonia in an acute-care hospital, focusing on oral intake and its status.

Design
Observational study.

Setting
Teikyo University School of Medicine, Mizonokuchi Hospital.

Participants
Patients ≥65 years of age who were admitted to the Teikyo University School of Medicine, Mizonokuchi Hospital between January 1, 2018 and December 31, 2019 with pneumonia who were referred to the Department of Rehabilitation with suspected dysphagia were included in the study. Fifty patients who underwent dental intervention were compared with 50 controls who had received no dental interventions prior to the opening of the dental department.

Measurements
Time series matching was retrospectively performed using the Oral Health Assessment Tool (OHAT). From the medical records, age at admission, sex, pneumonia severity classification (age, dehydration, respiratory failure, orientation disturbance, and blood pressure [A-DROP] score), body mass index, Charlson’s Comorbidity Index, OHAT, functional oral intake scale (FOIS) score at admission and discharge, and the length of hospital stay were retrieved; FOIS level ≥4 was defined as established oral intake.

Results
The number of patients in the control group before matching was 179. Twelve patients with missing information and seven patients who died in the hospital were excluded from this study. Multivariable logistic regression analysis showed that dental intervention (odds ratio 3.0, p = 0.014) was associated with the establishment of oral intake at discharge. Multiple logistic regression analysis showed that dental intervention was a significant factor for FOIS at discharge (p = 0.002) and the length of hospital stay (p = 0.039).

Conclusion
Oral management with dental intervention was associated with establishing oral intake and reducing hospital stay in patients with pneumonia, regardless of pneumonia severity or comorbidities.

Journal Article

JOURNALJournal of Nutrition, Health and Aging

TITLE:Effects of Oral Management on Elderly Patients with Pneumonia

DOIhttps://doi.org/10.1007/s12603-021-1660-0

Correspondence to

Kazuharu Nakagawa,Assistant Professor
 

Department of Dysphagia Rehabilitation,
Graduate School of Medical and Dental Sciences,
Tokyo Medical and Dental University(TMDU)
E-mail:k.nakagawa.swal (at) tmd.ac.jp


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