A Review of Oral Health in Older Adults: Key to Improving Nutrition and Quality of Life

Abstract

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Oral health is essential for quality of life in older adults: A Swedish National Quality Register Study

“…This relationship arises from the link between oral health problems and both general chronic and/or acute diseases and malnutrition/undernutrition leading to physical frailty affecting quality of life. 40 Our study supports the conclusion that oral health is related to quality of life for older adults in different care settings and is consequently a vital part of general health.…”

“…The result, based on aggregating data from NQRs, is in line with earlier studies focusing on HRQoL and oral health outcomes, 17‐19,39 suggesting that oral health status plays an important role for self‐reported quality of life among older people, including populations that may be underrepresented in research studies. This relationship arises from the link between oral health problems and both general chronic and/or acute diseases and malnutrition/undernutrition leading to physical frailty affecting quality of life 40 . Our study supports the conclusion that oral health is related to quality of life for older adults in different care settings and is consequently a vital part of general health.…”

“…The Mini-Nutritional Assessment (MNA) 45 and the Subjective Global Assessment (SGA) 46 have been used in several studies, showing pathways of association between oral health problems, malnutrition and low QoL in older adult populations. 40 MNA was a possible variable in the current study, but was excluded as the sample size would have been severely reduced.…”

“…The other nutrition variables used in the analysis of present study, that is the Norton nutrition and liquid, were not identified as predictors by the regression and thus might not the best ones for measuring nutritional status. The Mini‐Nutritional Assessment (MNA) 45 and the Subjective Global Assessment (SGA) 46 have been used in several studies, showing pathways of association between oral health problems, malnutrition and low QoL in older adult populations 40 . MNA was a possible variable in the current study, but was excluded as the sample size would have been severely reduced.…”

Tube Feeding in Individuals with Advanced Dementia: A Review of Its Burdens and Perceived Benefits

“…Advanced dementia can be described as a state of worsening mental and physical capabilities decline in persons with dementia, thereby resulting in dependency in (basic) daily personal care needs, such as dressing and eating, and cause severe limitations in verbal communication [4][5][6]. Studies show that nearly 90% of people with advanced dementia have eating problems [7] which increase the risk for weight loss, malnutrition, and general health decline [8][9][10][11]. Dementia causes physical, psychological, and economic impacts upon the individuals, caregivers, and the society at large [12].…”