Oral care after stroke: Where are we now?

Area of Science:

• Neurology
• Public Health
• Gerontology

Background:

• Aspiration pneumonia is a significant cause of mortality post-stroke.
• Poor oral hygiene is associated with an increased risk of aspiration pneumonia.

Purpose of the Study:

• To synthesize current knowledge on oral care practices for stroke patients.
• To identify gaps in research and establish priorities for evidence-based oral care interventions.
• To inform best practices for post-stroke oral hygiene.

Main Methods:

• A multidisciplinary narrative review.
• Inclusion of evidence from systematic reviews, literature, and expert/lay opinion.
• Scrutiny of current oral care practices and consensus-building on research priorities.

Main Results:

• Oral care quality post-stroke is often suboptimal and delegated to less qualified staff.
• Nursing staff face time pressures, prioritizing other clinical tasks over oral care.
• Existing guidelines for oral care are based on limited evidence and lack specific implementation details.

Conclusions:

• Oral health is crucial for stroke survivors' well-being but is frequently neglected.
• Multidisciplinary research is essential to understand and improve oral care delivery.
• Evidence-based, feasible, and cost-effective interventions are urgently required to enhance patient outcomes and potentially reduce risks associated with stroke.