Abstract
This retrospective case-control study evaluated the prevalence of declined swallowing function and the association with oral functions and gender in community-dwelling elderly patients. Their profiles, the results of swallowing function (Eating Assessment Tool: EAT-10) and other oral functions (oral dryness, maximum occlusal force (MOF), tongue–lip motor function (oral diadochokinesis: ODK), maximum tongue pressure (MTP) and masticatory performance (MP)) were extracted for analyses. The patients were categorized into three groups according to EAT-10 score (Group 1: 0, Group 2: 1 and 2, Group 3: ≥3). In total, 242 patients were enrolled and 46 of them (19.0%) were categorized into declined swallowing function (Group 3). In two-group comparisons (Group 1, 2 versus Group 3), significant differences were identified in age and the number of remaining teeth, but they were not identified in three-group comparisons. The patients with declined swallowing function (Group 3) had significantly lower function in ODK and MTP. Multiple logistic regression analyses identified that declined swallowing function was independently associated with declined functions in ODK /ka/ (OR: 5.31, 95% CI: 1.03–27.23, p = 0.04) and in MTP (OR: 2.74, 95% CI: 1.12–6.66, p = 0.03). This study could confirm the critical role of tongue functions in swallowing in community-dwelling elderly patients.
Highlights
The patients who were rehabilitated with removable dental prostheses were 190 patients and 52 patients were natural teeth dental arches or were rehabilitated with fixed partial dentures
The present study clearly showed that the significant differences in tongue–lip motor function (ODK) and maximum tongue pressure (MTP) were observed between the elderly patients with and without declined swallowing function, and above all it is suggested that motor function of posterior region of tongue (ODK /ka/) and MTP play a crucial role in swallowing function
Regarding tongue–lip motor function (ODK), clear evidence for the association of ODK with swallowing function is still insufficient, because there have been few studies that evaluated swallowing function using three of tongue–lip motor functions proposed by Minakuchi et al On this point, this study demonstrated the significance of motor function of posterior region of tongue (ODK /ka/) as a result of three kinds of ODK evaluations
Summary
Recognition and diagnosis of this chronic symptom in the elderly is an urgent issue
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