Study Regarding the Relationship between Nutritional Status and Oral Health in the Elderly Patients

摘要

The aim of study was to investigate the relationship between oral health and nutritional status in a population of elderly patients with systemic chronic or acute pathology. Materials and method: Prospective cross-sectional clinical investigation of 115 aged patients (> 60 yo; mean age 66.2) from the Clinical Foundation, Faculty of Dental Medicine, University of Medicine and Pharmacy of Iasi. In the first stage of the study, the patients (able to understand and communicate) were submitted to a mini-test for the assessment of the mental status (MMSE) In the second stage of the study, a questionnaire was used to record demographic and socioeconomic data of the subjects as well as information regarding systemic status and nutritional facts. In the third stage of the study, the nutritional status was evaluated by using Mini-Nutritional Assessment questionnaire (MNA). Finally, the oral status was evaluated by using clinical and radiographical exams as well as geriatric oral health assessment index (GOHAD. Results: Of the 60 old adults, 6% were severely malnourished, and 37.4% presented malnourished risk. 49.6% of the old people had difficulties eating firm foods, 25% of them being unable to prepare meals. Regarding oral status, only 5.2% had at least 20 natural teeth, 55.6% required dental care for decayed or broken teeth, 69.6% were affected by xerostomia, 21% of the completely or partial edentulous people were untreated by removable dentures, 25% of the edentulous patients complained by ill-fitted removable dentures. Conclusion: Lack of education, treatment with over 3 drugs daily, physical inability to buy foods or to prepare meals, as well as the difficulties eating firm foods are strongly associated with poor nutritional status. Also, the need for dental care was associated to nutritional deficiency.