The oral function of community-dwelling older adults complaining of an oral function deterioration: An examination using the oral function-related items of the Questionnaire for Latter-stage Elderly People

Abstract

The oral function-related items of the newly developed "Questionnaire for Latter-stage Elderly People" are based on two items of the Kihon checklist assessing the masticatory and swallowing functions. In this study, we estimated the questionnaire's application rate and investigated the oral function of the respondents. Included were 699 older adults (274 men/425 women, average age, 73.4±6.6 years old). Those who responded positively to the related items were considered to have decreased swallowing and masticatory functions. The specific oral function was assessed based on the number of present and functional teeth; oral hygiene; oral moisture; occlusal force; oral diadochokinesis /pa/, /ta/, /ka/; tongue pressure; mixing ability; shearing ability; and Eating Assessment Tool (EAT)-10 (reference, score ≥3). The rates of decreased masticatory and swallowing functions were 21.5% and 26.6%, respectively, while 7.4% of participants had both. Those with a decreased masticatory function showed fewer present teeth; a lower occlusal force, oral diadochokinesis /pa/, mixing ability, shearing ability, and higher EAT-10 scores.Those with a decreased swallowing function only had higher EAT-10 scores. In the early- and latter-stage elderly, the decreased masticatory function rates were 15.6% and 29.4%, respectively, the decreased swallowing function rates were 27.8% and 25.0%, respectively, and the rates of both decreased masticatory and swallowing functions were 6.0% and 9.5%, respectively. The older adults who responded positively to the related questionnaire items, especially for items related to masticatory function, had a decreased oral function in multiple respects. The items related to the oral function in the Questionnaire for Latter-stage Elderly People are considered useful for identifying older adults with a decreased oral function.