Publicação
Oral health, polypharmacy and nutritional status in institutionalized dementia patients : a multicenter cross-sectional study
| datacite.subject.fos | Ciências Médicas::Ciências da Saúde | |
| datacite.subject.sdg | 03:Saúde de Qualidade | |
| dc.contributor.author | Pombo-Lopes, Joana | |
| dc.contributor.author | Sousa-Catita, Diogo | |
| dc.contributor.author | Mascarenhas, Paulo | |
| dc.contributor.author | Fonseca, Jorge | |
| dc.contributor.author | Grillo-Evangelista, José | |
| dc.date.accessioned | 2026-07-15T11:04:37Z | |
| dc.date.available | 2026-07-15T11:04:37Z | |
| dc.date.issued | 2026-07 | |
| dc.description.abstract | Background: As the population ages, dementia poses a critical public health challenge. This study examined the oral health and nutritional status of institutionalized Portuguese adults with dementia, exploring their interrelated predictors. Methods: This multicenter, cross-sectional study assessed institutionalized patients using the Decayed, Missing, and Filled Teeth (DMFT) index, posterior functional units (PFUs), plaque (PI) and gingival (GI) indices, the Short Xerostomia Inventory (SXI-5), and the Mini Nutritional Assessment (MNA). DMFT was modeled using multivariable ordinary least squares (OLS) regression for demographic and clinical predictors and separate negative binomial models for medication-related predictors. Other outcomes were analyzed using outcome-specific multivariable models. Results: The study included 71 participants (mean age: 82.5 ± 6.9 years). A high dental disease burden (mean DMFT score of 24.3 ± 7.5) was observed, independently predicted by advanced age (β = 0.48, p = 0.002) and residence in public long-term care units (LTCUs) (β = 6.65, p = 0.001). Total edentulism affected 28.2% of the sample. Polypharmacy emerged as a significant predictor of tooth loss; each additional medication was associated with an 18% decrease in the likelihood of retaining natural teeth (OR = 0.82, p = 0.008). Higher cognitive decline (GDS) was associated with increased plaque (p = 0.043), and modified-texture diets were associated with lower plaque levels (β = −0.64, p = 0.021). The mean MNA score (16.9 ± 3.8) indicated a high risk of malnutrition, with a trend toward lower gingival inflammation with better nutritional status (p = 0.061). Conclusions: Institutionalized dementia patients face severe oral and nutritional risks associated with age, polypharmacy and institutional environment. This emphasizes the need for multidisciplinary protocols and caregiver training. | eng |
| dc.identifier.citation | Pombo-Lopes J, Sousa-Catita D, Mascarenhas P, Fonseca J, Grillo-Evangelista J. Oral Health, Polypharmacy and Nutritional Status in Institutionalized Dementia Patients: A Multicenter Cross-Sectional Study. Biomedicines. 2026; 14(7):1476. https://doi.org/10.3390/biomedicines14071476 | |
| dc.identifier.doi | 10.3390/biomedicines14071476 | |
| dc.identifier.issn | 2227-9059 | |
| dc.identifier.uri | http://hdl.handle.net/10400.26/63820 | |
| dc.language.iso | eng | |
| dc.peerreviewed | yes | |
| dc.publisher | MDPI | |
| dc.relation.hasversion | https://doi.org/10.3390/biomedicines14071476 | |
| dc.rights.uri | http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ | |
| dc.subject | dementia | |
| dc.subject | oral health | |
| dc.subject | nutritional status | |
| dc.subject | edentulism | |
| dc.subject | polypharmacy | |
| dc.title | Oral health, polypharmacy and nutritional status in institutionalized dementia patients : a multicenter cross-sectional study | eng |
| dc.type | contribution to journal | |
| dspace.entity.type | Publication | |
| oaire.citation.issue | 7 | |
| oaire.citation.startPage | 1476 | |
| oaire.citation.title | Biomedicines | |
| oaire.citation.volume | 14 | |
| oaire.version | http://purl.org/coar/version/c_970fb48d4fbd8a85 |