Association Between Oral and Pharyngeal Functions in Patients in Medical-Dental Cooperation at an Acute Hospital

Abstract

Background: Recent studies have focused on oral frailty and hypofunction, and their relationship with swallowing function and dysphagia. These play especially important roles in patients with dysphagia in medical-dental cooperation at acute hospitals. Objective: This study aimed to assess oral frailty, in terms of nutritional intake by evaluating oral and swallowing functions simultaneously, in patients consulting at an acute hospital. Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted at the Center for Dysphagia of Tohoku University Hospital and involved a comprehensive survey of 183 patients. Their oral function and oral status were evaluated, which included factors such as poor oral hygiene, oral dryness, tongue-lip motor function, tongue pressure, and masticatory performance. Additionally, swallowing status was evaluated using various methods, including a questionnaire related to swallowing, Hyodo–Komagane score, modified water-swallowing, and repetitive saliva swallowing tests. This thorough approach ensured the validity and reliability of our findings. Results: Approximately 60% of patients had head and neck tumours, degenerative diseases, and muscular diseases. Therefore, a high prevalence of oral hypofunction was observed. Furthermore, since 41.5% of patients had limited tongue movement, a characteristic correlation existed between the oral diadochokinesis and Hyodo–Komagane score. Conclusion: These results suggest that oral dryness score, oral diadochokinesis, and tongue pressure are associated with oral hypofunction and dysphagia. Additionally, patients with hypofunction and decreased tongue pressure may have hypopharyngeal residuals. The medical-dental cooperation in an acute hospital allows for the simultaneous assessment of oral and swallowing functions. This suggests a potential to contribute to the practice of safe oral intake and appropriate rehabilitation.