A prospective cohort study of the effects of oral function on geriatric syndrome

2018 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 15K20657
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Young Scientists (B)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Research Field: Social dentistry
• Research Institution: Aichi Gakuin University
• Principal Investigator: Dewake Nanae 愛知学院大学, 歯学部, 助教 (40747268)
• Project Period (FY): 2015-04-01 – 2019-03-31
• Keywords: 要介護高齢者 / 口腔機能 / 臼歯部の咬合 / 義歯 / 死亡率 / 頚部聴診

Outline of Final Research Achievements

Subjects were nursing home residents who orally food intake were enrolled in the baseline examinations in Aichi prefecture, Japan. We examined the number of present teeth, posterior occluding pairs (POPs; 0-8 pairs). Then, we defined DPOPs (0-8 pairs) as POPs and removable dentures. Further, nutritional status, activities of daily living, cognitive function and comorbid conditions were assessed. One year later, we investigated the subjects and finally, we analyzed 190 elderly people (the survival group: n=154, the death group: n=36) who had orally food intake. In the multivariate logistic regression analysis, subjects who had 0 DPOPs had significantly higher odds of a high mortality (odds ratio 6.65, 95% confidence interval 2.15-20.56) and 1-7 DPOPs (odds ratio 7.78, 95% confidence interval 1.38-43.80) compared to 8 DPOPs. Our results showed that the restoration of occlusion with denture might reduce 1-year mortality in nursing home residents.

Free Research Field

高齢者歯科疫学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

本調査において、施設入居高齢者で経口摂取可能な者においては、義歯を食事中に使用することにより、死亡率の低下に寄与する可能性が示唆された。また、要介護高齢者における口腔機能管理は容易ではなく、多くのスタッフの協力の下行われるが、義歯の使用および口腔の管理は健康寿命を延伸させるために効果があるかもしれないことが本研究結果から示唆された。