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. 2022 Aug;8(4):959-968.
doi: 10.1002/cre2.585. Epub 2022 May 8.

Eating problems among old home care clients

Annina Salmi  1 , Kaija Komulainen  1 , Annamari Nihtilä  1   2 , Miia Tiihonen  3 , Irma Nykänen  4 , Sirpa Hartikainen  3 , Anna L Suominen  1   5
Affiliations

Eating problems among old home care clients

Annina Salmi et al. Clin Exp Dent Res. 2022 Aug.

Abstract

Aims: The purpose was to examine the prevalence and determinants of self-reported eating problems in old home care clients, screened separately by a clinical nutritionist and a dental hygienist.

Methods and results: The data came from the Nutrition, Oral Health and Medication (NutOrMed) study, the participants of which were ≥75-year-old home care clients living in Finland. The structured interviews were conducted at the participants' (n = 250) homes. Of the participants, 29% reported poor appetite, 20% had problems with chewing, and 14% had problems with swallowing when asked by a clinical nutritionist. Additionally, 18% reported oral health-related eating problems when asked by a dental hygienist. Participants with continuous xerostomia (odds ratio [OR]: 3.0, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.0-9.0) or poor self-reported oral health (OR: 4.3, 95% CI: 1.4-13.0) had a higher risk for problems with chewing when asked by a clinical nutritionist. Edentulous participants (OR: 3.5, 95% CI: 1.2-10.9) and participants with toothache or problems with dentures (OR: 10.3, 95% CI: 4.0-26.0) had a higher risk for oral health-related eating problems when asked by a dental hygienist.

Conclusion: Eating problems are common in older adults, and interprofessional collaboration is required for their identification and alleviation.

Trial registration: ClinicalTrials.gov NCT02214758.

Keywords: chewing; eating; home care; older adults.

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Conflict of interest statement

The author declares no conflict of interest.

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