Analyses of Swallowing Function and Its Related Factors in Community-Dwelling Elderly Patients: A Case-Control Study

Abstract

This retrospective case-control study evaluated the prevalence of declined swallowing function and the association with oral functions and gender in community-dwelling elderly patients. Their profiles, the results of swallowing function (Eating Assessment Tool: EAT-10) and other oral functions (oral dryness, maximum occlusal force (MOF), tongue–lip motor function (oral diadochokinesis: ODK), maximum tongue pressure (MTP) and masticatory performance (MP)) were extracted for analyses. The patients were categorized into three groups according to EAT-10 score (Group 1: 0, Group 2: 1 and 2, Group 3: ≥3). In total, 242 patients were enrolled and 46 of them (19.0%) were categorized into declined swallowing function (Group 3). In two-group comparisons (Group 1, 2 versus Group 3), significant differences were identified in age and the number of remaining teeth, but they were not identified in three-group comparisons. The patients with declined swallowing function (Group 3) had significantly lower function in ODK and MTP. Multiple logistic regression analyses identified that declined swallowing function was independently associated with declined functions in ODK /ka/ (OR: 5.31, 95% CI: 1.03–27.23, p = 0.04) and in MTP (OR: 2.74, 95% CI: 1.12–6.66, p = 0.03). This study could confirm the critical role of tongue functions in swallowing in community-dwelling elderly patients.

Population-based reference values for tongue pressure in Japanese older adults: A pooled analysis of over 5,000 participants

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Tongue pressure (TP), a quantitative evaluation of tongue function [1], is an objective indicator of oral function. Low TP was associ-ated with low swallowing function [2], which can decrease food consumption and lead to malnutrition [3]. It has also been demonstrated that TP can predict adverse health outcomes, such as physical frailty and sarcopenia, among community-dwelling older adults [4].

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Current status and future prospects for oral care education in Bachelor of Nursing curriculums: A Japanese cross‐sectional study

“…Japanese dentists have developed the concepts of “oral frailty” and “oral hypofunction” as risk factors for physical frailty and mortality (Tanaka et al, 2018). Oral hypofunction is diagnosed by assessing oral and swallowing functions, oral dryness, maximum occlusal force, tongue‐lip motor function, maximum tongue pressure, and masticatory performance (Ogino et al, 2021). The devices to measure oral function are also used to evaluate the effect of oral function training on patients (Somsak et al, 2022; Wang et al, 2022).…”

Factors Predicting Tongue Pressure Decline among Community-Dwelling Older Adults: The Takashimadaira Study

“…Tongue pressure (TP) measurement is a quantitative evaluation of tongue function [1]. Low TP in old age leads to swallowing disorders [2], which can cause undernutrition [3]. Furthermore, a previous study demonstrated that TP was associated with increased risks of adverse health outcomes, including sarcopenia and frailty, among community-dwelling older adults [4].…”