The goal of this observational study is to learn about the effects of a reduced oral function on the nutritional status of non-acute hospitalized elders and on their oral health quality of life.
Malnutrition is highly prevalent among the elderly, many authors reported on the relationship between oral health and nutrition. However the the relationship between the dental state and the nutritional status was always limited to anatomical criteria such as number of teeth and the presence of prosthetic reconstructions. The oral function is classified into 4 stages healthy state, oral frailty, oral hypofunction and oral dysfunction. The classification into the different stages result from an examination of 7 parameters: the oral hygiene, the oral dryness, the occlusal force, the tongue-lip motor function, the tongue pressure, the chewing function and the swallowing function. This study aims to correlate the oral function with the nutritional status of non-acute hospitalized elders. And to further investigate the correlation between the different parameters defining the oral function and the oral health related quality of life (OHRQoL) as measured by theGeneral Oral Health Assessment Index. A total 60 participants will be recruited in the University Hospital of Geneva, Loëx rehabilitation center. The investigators will see the patient for 2 visits after informed consent. The first visit will be 45 minutes long and will include a dental examination and an examination of the oral hygiene, the oral dryness, the tongue lip motor function, the tongue pressure, the occlusal force and the swallowing function. Diagnosis for nutrition according to the Glim criteria will be done. Furthermore, the participants will be asked to fill an oral health quality of life questionnaire comprising 12 questions. Oral hypo function will be defined as a state when 3 or more signs were present from the 7 parameters examined. Linear multiple regression analysis is used to examine the relationship between the nutritional status and oral function. Spearman's rank correlation coefficient will be used to correlate the oral function score and oral health related quality of life.
Study Type
OBSERVATIONAL
Enrollment
61
Participants will receive a comprehensive oral examination, nutritional examination and will fill an oral health related quality of life questionnaire.
University clinics of dental medicine
Geneva, Canton of Geneva, Switzerland
Geneva University Hospital
Geneva, Canton of Geneva, Switzerland
Malnutrition status as classified by the Global Leadership Initiative on Malnutrition (GLIM)
The GLIM considers both (a) phenotypic (\>5% weight loss within the previous 6 months or \>10% weight loss in more than 6 months, BMI \< 22 kg/m2 if age \>70 years, FFMI \<17 kg/m2 in men and \<15 kg/m2 in women) and (b) aetiologic criteria (reduced food intake and level of inflammation with CRP \>10 mg/L). Participants were classified as malnourished when at least 1 phenotypic criterion and 1 aetiologic criterion were met. The severity of the malnutrition is based on the phenotypic criteria in a stage 1 "moderate malnutrition" and stage 2 "severe malnutrition." The participants were classified on a score scale from 0- 2 with o being normal, 1 for the moderate malnutrition and 2 for the severe malnutrition.
Time frame: baseline
Number of impaired oral functions
The Japanese society of gerodontology in 2016 published a position paper aiming to standardize the examination of oral disorders related to age and to suggest management strategies. They created a conceptual diagram divided into 4 stages: healthy state, oral frailty, oral hypofunction and oral dysfunction. The classification into the different stages result from an examination of 7 parameters: the oral hygiene, the oral dryness, the occlusal force, the tongue-lip motor function, the tongue pressure, the chewing function and the swallowing function. Oral hypofunction is defined as a state when 3 or more signs were present.
Time frame: baseline
Oral health related quality of life
General oral health assessment index (GOHAI) is a self-reported measure designed to assess the impact on daily life of oral health problems of older individuals. The 12 item GOHAI evaluates three dimensions of oral health related quality of life study (OHRQOL). The GOHAI score is determined by summing the final score of each of the 12 items ranges from 0 to 60 with higher scores indicating better oral health.
Time frame: baseline
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