Systemic and Oral Characteristics of Convalescent Inpatients Requiring Oral-Health Management by a Dental Specialist during Hospitalization

Abstract

Older adults often experience poor oral functions, hindering rehabilitation post-acute disease treatment. However, characteristics of hospitalized patients who would benefit from professional oral-health management (POHM) have not been clarified. Therefore, we aimed to elucidate systemic and oral characteristics of patients requiring POHM during hospitalization in a convalescent hospital. This study included 312 participants admitted to the rehabilitation department of a convalescent hospital for a year. The patients were categorized according to POHM requirements (no-POHM group: 137 patients; POHM group: 175 patients) by discharge. Age, sex, primary disease at admission, Glasgow coma scale (GCS), Functional Independence Measurement (FIM), Mini nutritional assessment-short form (MNA-SF), Functional oral intake scale (FOIS), number of present and functional teeth, Oral Health Assessment Tool (OHAT) scores, and POHM details provided during patient hospitalization were compared. Binomial logistic-regression analysis identified patients requiring POHM as those who had suffered a stroke and had a low number of present teeth, poor overall oral health, low food form, and low motor skills at admission. A high percentage of POHM interventions comprised oral-hygiene care and denture treatment. In summary, patients whose oral health has deteriorated and those experiencing oral-intake difficulties upon admission to a convalescent hospital may require oral-health management.