Associations between self-assessed masticatory ability, nutritional status, prosthetic status and salivary flow rate in hospitalized elders

OBJECTIVES: To compare the association between self-assessed masticatory ab ility and nutritional status with general health status, salivary flow and dental! prosthetic status. DESIGN: A questionnaire and a cross-sectional clinical investigation combin ed with a measurement of salivary now rates. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: A cohort of 99 elderly, nonpsychiatric patients in a geriatric hospital; clinical examination to determine dental and prosthetic status, oral health and whole unstimulated (USFR) and stimulated (SSFR) sa livary flow rates, examination of anthropometric measures, serum albumin le vel and body mass index (BMI); questionnaire designed to produce yes or no answers related to masticatory function, nutritional status, appetite and p rosthesis function; mini mental score examination (MMES). MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: USER, SSFR, BMI, anthropometric measures and serum a lbumin level; complaints related to appetite and xerostomia. RESULTS: Mean age of the 99 patients was 82.5 +/- 4.04 with a MMES of >21; 50% with malnutrition of severe or intermediate degree, and 86% with modera tely or severely reduced serum albumin concentration; 55% reported recent l oss of appetite and 52% had symptoms of oral dryness. Recent loss of appeti te was associated with reduced serum albumin and complaints of dry mouth an d lack of appetite was associated with BMI <21, 10% weight loss during the preceeding 6 months, SSFR less than or equal to 0.5 ml min(-1) and wearing dentures. Complaints on poor retention of the maxillary denture were associ ated with recent weight loss and SSFR less than or equal to 0.5 mi min(-1). CONCLUSIONS: Malnutrition in hospitalized elders is primarily associated wi th recent loss or lack of appetite whereas complaints related to dentures a re associated with poor denture quality.