Abstract
BackgroundThe changed disease landscape in Japan because of an increasing aging population has contributed to an increase in convalescent inpatients, warranting important considerations of their oral care needs. However, information on the oral state of these inpatients is scarce. We evaluated the correlation between the number of residual teeth and tongue hygiene state in these inpatients.MethodsThis cross-sectional study included convalescent-ward inpatients, aged 34–100 years. The study was conducted between April 2017 and March 2018 in Kitakyushu, Japan. Data regarding age, sex, number of residual teeth, odontotherapy requirement, medications with oral side effects, and the reason for hospitalization, were collected. Oral hygiene level was assessed using the Oral Health Assessment Tool (OHAT). The correlation between each element of OHAT and the number of residual teeth was analyzed using Pearson’s correlation analysis. The risk of a remarkable tongue state was analyzed using binominal logistic regression analysis.ResultsCorrelations were observed between the number of residual teeth and OHAT subscales, including tongue, saliva, and dentures. A significantly higher percentage of inpatients with ≤19 teeth had a tongue state score of 1 or higher, compared with those with ≥20 teeth. (78.6% vs 57.7%, p = 0.047). In inpatients with ≥20 teeth, the remarkable saliva state significantly increased the risk of the remarkable tongue state by 10.49-fold (95% confidence interval = 2.86–38.51), after adjusting for potential confounders.ConclusionPoor tongue hygiene is associated with the number of teeth and salivary state in convalescent-ward inpatients. Inpatients with ≤19 teeth had a higher risk of poor tongue hygiene, regardless of the salivary condition, as assessed using OHAT.
Highlights
The changed disease landscape in Japan because of an increasing aging population has contributed to an increase in convalescent inpatients, warranting important considerations of their oral care needs
While the oral assessment guide (OAG) was developed to assess the oral state of patients on cancer chemotherapy, the Oral Hygiene Assessment Tool (OHAT) was developed for older adults in nursing homes or receiving care at home; the OHAT includes a category for masticatory ability
Correlations were observed between the number of residual teeth and OHAT scores related to tongue (r = − 0.221, p < 0.05), Table 1 Correlation between number of residual teeth and OHAT subscales analyzed with Pearson coefficient of correlation variables tooth number
Summary
The changed disease landscape in Japan because of an increasing aging population has contributed to an increase in convalescent inpatients, warranting important considerations of their oral care needs. Andersson modified one of the categories (saliva) of assessment in the OAG and designated it as the revised OAG (ROAG) [5]. Another tool, the Oral Hygiene Assessment Tool (OHAT) is used widely [6]. While the OAG was developed to assess the oral state of patients on cancer chemotherapy, the OHAT was developed for older adults in nursing homes or receiving care at home; the OHAT includes a category for masticatory ability. A score of 1 or 2 for any of the categories mandates referral to an oral health professional [7]
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