Sumi Yasunori, Miura Hiroko, Nagaya Masahiro, Nagaosa Shuichiro, Umemura Osami
Division of Oral and Dental Surgery, Department of Advanced Medicine, National Center for Geriatrics and Gerontology, 36-3 Gengo, Morioka, Obu, Japan.
Arch Gerontol Geriatr. 2009 Jan-Feb;48(1):100-5. doi: 10.1016/j.archger.2007.10.010. Epub 2007 Dec 21.
The purpose of this study was to clarify the relationship between oral function and general condition among Japanese nursing home residents. The hypothesis was that oral function is one of the most important factors for the maintenance of general condition in dependent elderly. Seventy-nine residents of a nursing home in Japan participated in this study (54 women and 25 men, age range: 65-95 years, mean age: 82.2+/-8.5). A water drinking test and gargling function were used as indicators of oral function. Indicators of general condition included cognitive function (mini-mental state examination; MMSE), ADL (Barthel index), and nutritional status (body mass index=BMI, and serum albumin level). To clarify the relationship between oral function and general condition among dependent elderly, statistical evaluations of correlations (Spearman rank correlation coefficient) and differences (Mann-Whitney U test, Student's t test) between groups were conducted. SPSS was used for the statistical analysis. The water drinking and gargling function tests showed a strong correlation (p<0.001) with cognitive function and ADL. The water drinking and gargling function tests showed a correlation with BMI (p<0.005, p<0.01, respectively), and the water drinking test showed a correlation with serum albumin level (p<0.05). However, no correlation was observed between the gargling function tests and serum albumin level. It is concluded that oral function is closely related to cognitive function, ADL, and nutritional status. Oral function may play an important role in maintaining general condition in dependent elderly. To prevent decreases in cognitive function, ADL and nutritional status in dependent elderly, the importance of improvements in oral function cannot be over-emphasized.
本研究的目的是阐明日本养老院居民口腔功能与总体健康状况之间的关系。研究假设是，口腔功能是维持失能老年人总体健康状况的最重要因素之一。日本一家养老院的79名居民参与了本研究（54名女性和25名男性，年龄范围：65 - 95岁，平均年龄：82.2±8.5岁）。饮水试验和漱口功能被用作口腔功能的指标。总体健康状况指标包括认知功能（简易精神状态检查表；MMSE）、日常生活活动能力（巴氏指数）和营养状况（体重指数 = BMI，以及血清白蛋白水平）。为了阐明失能老年人口腔功能与总体健康状况之间的关系，对组间相关性（Spearman等级相关系数）和差异（Mann - Whitney U检验、Student's t检验）进行了统计评估。使用SPSS进行统计分析。饮水和漱口功能测试与认知功能及日常生活活动能力呈强相关（p < 0.001）。饮水和漱口功能测试与BMI相关（分别为p < 0.005，p < 0.01），饮水测试与血清白蛋白水平相关（p < 0.05）。然而，漱口功能测试与血清白蛋白水平之间未观察到相关性。结论是口腔功能与认知功能、日常生活活动能力和营养状况密切相关。口腔功能可能在维持失能老年人的总体健康状况中发挥重要作用。为防止失能老年人的认知功能、日常生活活动能力和营养状况下降，改善口腔功能的重要性再怎么强调也不为过。
