Relationship Between Oral Health Status and Cachexia in Patient With Dysphagia

This study aimed to clarify the association between oral health status and cachexia among the patients with dysphagia.

The registry data of the Japanese Sarcopenic Dysphagia Database were used. Oral health screening was performed with the Revised Oral Assessment Guide (ROAG) or the Oral Health Assessment Tool (OHAT). ROAG score ≥ 13 or OHAT score ≥ 3 was defined as poor oral health status. Activities of Daily Living (ADL) was evaluated with the Barthel index (BI) and swallowing function was evaluated with the Food Intake Level Scale (FILS). The relationship between oral status and the presence of cachexia and other evaluation criteria was evaluated in univariate and multivariate analyses.

The study included 401 older patients with dysphagia (mean age 81 years; 49% women, and 209 cases (52%) had poor oral health. In univariate analysis, poor oral health had significantly more malnutrition and cachexia (p = 0.003 and p = 0.001, respectively) and significantly lower BI and FILS (both p < 0.001). Multivariate analysis showed that oral care status was detected as a factor affecting the presence of cachexia (odds ratio: 1.881, 95% confidence interval, 1.156 to 3.060, p = 0.011).

The risk of cachexia is higher in the case of poor oral health status. Rehabilitation, nutritional support and oral health care may contribute to the management of cachexia.