Prognosis-related factors concerning oral and general conditions for homebound older adults in Japan.

PURPOSE

The present study examined the relationship between oral function, such as eating/swallowing, and life prognosis among a homebound elderly population, considering physical and mental function.

METHODS

The participants were 511 homebound older adults aged 65 years or older living in four Japanese prefectures. Sex, age, activities of daily living (ADL), cognitive function, underlying disease, nutritional status as Mini-Nutritional Assessment-Short Form (MNA(®)-SF), swallowing function, dietary modification and occlusal status were examined at baseline. Participants were categorized into poor outcome (died or admitted to hospital or nursing home) and good outcome (still under home care) groups at 1-year follow up, and significant related baseline factors were analyzed. In addition, these groups were compared by the ADL subgroup divided into <60 (lower) and ≥60 (higher) by Barthel Index.

RESULTS

In total, 473 participants were followed up (poor outcome group 177 [37.4%], good outcome group 296 [62.6%]). Sex, age, ADL, MNA(®)-SF, swallowing function, dietary modification and occlusal support were significantly different between these groups. Logistic regression analysis showed that sex and MNA(®)-SF score were significantly related to prognosis in the lower ADL group, and sex, age, Charlson Comorbidity Index and occlusal support were significantly related in the higher ADL group.

CONCLUSIONS

ADL was strongly correlated with life prognosis in homebound older adults. Within the higher ADL participants, occlusal support was related to this outcome.