A Pilot Cross-Sectional Study on Oral Health and Nutritional Status of Institutionalized Older Adults: A Focus on Sarcopenia

Luca Aquilanti, Sonila Alia, Sofia Pugnaloni, Lorenzo Scalise, Arianna Vignini and Giorgio Rappelli
Additional contact information
Luca Aquilanti: Department of Clinical Specialistic and Dental Sciences, Università Politecnica delle Marche, Via Tronto 10/A, 60126 Ancona, Italy
Sonila Alia: Department of Clinical Specialistic and Dental Sciences, Università Politecnica delle Marche, Via Tronto 10/A, 60126 Ancona, Italy
Sofia Pugnaloni: Department of Clinical Specialistic and Dental Sciences, Università Politecnica delle Marche, Via Tronto 10/A, 60126 Ancona, Italy
Lorenzo Scalise: Department of Industrial Engineering and Mathematical Sciences, Università Politecnica delle Marche, Via Brecce Bianche 12, 60131 Ancona, Italy
Arianna Vignini: Department of Clinical Specialistic and Dental Sciences, Università Politecnica delle Marche, Via Tronto 10/A, 60126 Ancona, Italy
Giorgio Rappelli: Department of Clinical Specialistic and Dental Sciences, Università Politecnica delle Marche, Via Tronto 10/A, 60126 Ancona, Italy

IJERPH, 2021, vol. 18, issue 24, 1-12

Abstract: The global population aged over 60 will double by 2050. This pilot cross-sectional study aims at evaluating nutritional and oral health status and the prevalence of sarcopenia in older adults living in an Italian residential aged care facility. Thirty-two adults aged ≥65 years were included. Individual sociodemographic data and nutritional and oral health data were collected. For sarcopenia diagnosis, muscle mass, physical performance, muscle strength and anthropometric parameters were recorded. Participants underwent a nutritional screening and a dental examination. Mini Nutritional Assessment and masticatory mixing ability test were performed. The results showed that men recorded a hand strength significantly higher than that of women, 25.5 ± 7.2 Kg vs. 12.8 ± 5.9 Kg ( p < 0.01), respectively. Gait speed test showed that only 20.8% of the participants had a speed of more than 0.8 m/s. A strong negative correlation between masticatory performance and the number of missing teeth was detected (r = −0.84, 95% C.I. [−0.92; −0.69], p < 0.01). Overall, a high percentage of institutionalized older adults were diagnosed as being sarcopenic. Poor oral health in older adults is a major general health problem as it may restrict both food selection and nutrient intake, representing a risk factor for sarcopenia, although longitudinal studies are needed to confirm this relationship.

Keywords: nutritional status; oral health; mastication; sarcopenia; ageing (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
References: View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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