Analysis of potential risk factors related to choking and aspiration in the elderly

2013 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 23500591
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Section: 一般
• Research Field: Rehabilitation science/Welfare engineering
• Research Institution: Kagoshima University
• Principal Investigator: NAKAMURA YASUNORI 鹿児島大学, 医歯(薬)学総合研究科, 客員研究員 (30315444)
• Co-Investigator(Kenkyū-buntansha): SHIMODOZONO Megumi 鹿児島大学, 医歯学総合研究科, 准教授 (30325782) ; NISHI Yasuhiro 鹿児島大学, 医歯学総合研究科, 准教授 (10189251) ; MATSUI Ryutaro 鹿児島大学, 医歯学総合研究科, 助教 (60264446) ; MATSUMOTO Syuji 鹿児島大学, 医学部・歯学部附属病院, 助教 (80418863) ; NAKAMURA Norifumi 鹿児島大学, 医歯学総合研究科, 教授 (60217875) ; SHIMOMATSU Kouta 鹿児島大学, 医歯学総合研究科, 助教 (30404502)
• Project Period (FY): 2011 – 2013
• Keywords: 摂食・嚥下障害 / 高齢者 / 誤嚥 / 窒息 / 顎口腔機能

Research Abstract

For the purpose of extracting potential risk factors for aspiration and suffocation in the elderly, a survey on swallowing functions was conducted among the elderly who sustained themselves in daily life. For evaluation of oral functions, measurement of tongue pressure was also conducted. A potential decline in swallowing functions was observed in about 12% of this object. Such a trend was stronger in those aged 75 and over, who showed "prolonged eating time" and "a propensity for soft diet" among the oral stage items significantly more frequently than those aged 65 to 74.
The results demonstrated that in the elderly aged 75 and over, decreased chewing functions, which are essential in the formation of a bolus, was important as a potential risk factor for aspiration and suffocation. Additionally, tongue pressure was found to significantly correlate with tongue muscle strength, indicating that tongue pressure measurement was useful in evaluating tongue functions.

Research Products

• [Journal Article] Comparison of a saliva wetness tester and a moisture-checking device in patients with maxillary obturator prostheses (2013)
  • Author(s): Murakami M, Nishi Y, Kamashita Y, Nagaoka E
  • Journal Title: Gerodontology, Article first published online
  • DOI: 10.1111/ger.12008
  • Peer Reviewed
• [Journal Article] Dry mouth and denture plaque microflora in complete denture and palatal obturator prosthesis wearers (2013)
  • Author(s): Murakami M, Nishi Y, Seto K, Kamashita Y, Nagaoka E
  • Journal Title: Gerodontology. Article first published online
  • DOI: 10.1111/ger.12073
  • Peer Reviewed
• [Journal Article] 当科における過去10年間の顎関節症患者の後向き調査による臨床統計的検討 (2012)
  • Author(s): 中村康典, 吉田裕真, 石畑清秀, 野添悦郎, 中村典史
  • Journal Title: 日本顎関節学会 Volume: 24 巻1号 Pages: 22-27
  • Peer Reviewed
• [Presentation] 舌圧測定器及び舌筋力計を用いた舌運動機能評価 : 脳卒中患者での検討 (2013)
  • Author(s): 瀬戸口春香, 松元秀次, 中村康典, 下堂薗恵(他4名)
  • Organizer: 平成25年度第19回日本摂食・嚥下リハビリテーション学会学術大会
  • Place of Presentation: 岡山
  • Year and Date: 2013-09-23
• [Presentation] 口腔癌治療における栄養状態と術後合併症の検討 (2013)
  • Author(s): 松井竜太郎, 下松孝太, 西 恭宏, 中村康典(他4名)
  • Organizer: 平成25年度第19回日本摂食・嚥下リハビリテーション学会学術大会
  • Place of Presentation: 岡山
  • Year and Date: 2013-09-23
• [Presentation] 舌圧測定器及び舌筋力計を用いた舌運動機能評価 : 健常人での検討 (2013)
  • Author(s): 福永茉奈美, 松元秀次, 中村康典, 下堂薗恵
  • Organizer: 平成25年度第19回日本摂食・嚥下リハビリテーション学会学術大会
  • Place of Presentation: 岡山
  • Year and Date: 2013-09-22
• [Presentation] 歯科医院受診の後期高齢者における摂食・嚥下機能に関する実態調査 (2012)
  • Author(s): 冨宿美紀, 西恭宏, 中村康典, 松井竜太郎, 下松孝太(他5名)
  • Organizer: 第17回, 第18回共催日本摂食・嚥下リハビリテーション学科学術大会
  • Place of Presentation: 札幌
  • Year and Date: 2012-08-31
• [Presentation] (2012)
  • Author(s): 松井竜太郎, 中村康典, 西恭宏, 下松孝太(他5名)
  • Organizer: 第17回, 第18回共催日本摂食・嚥下リハビリテーション学科学術大会
  • Place of Presentation: 札幌
  • Year and Date: 2012-08-31
• [Presentation] 歯科医院受診高齢者の摂食・嚥下機能に関する実態調査 (2011)
  • Author(s): 中村康典, 西恭宏, 松井竜太郎(他5名)
  • Organizer: 第56回日本口腔外科学会・総会・学術大会
  • Place of Presentation: 大阪
  • Year and Date: 2011-10-22