Association between the Prevalence of Oral Lesions and Nutritional Status in Geriatric Egyptian Population Living in Elderly Homes: A Cross Sectional Pilot Study

Abstract

The elderly are an assorted population group whose number is growing at a considerably faster rate in the total population. Aging and systemic disease and their treatments can influence function and oral health. There is much interest in the oral health problems of the elderly and its influence on nutrition. Poor oral health has a negative impact on dietary intake and nutritional status when the capacity to chew and eat is diminished. The present study estimated the prevalence and distribution of the oral lesions based on clinical diagnosis in a sample of 395 geriatric Egyptian individuals living in elderly homes and assess and correlate their oral health and nutritional status using standardized assessment scores; 1) Comprehensive general and oral assessment was done using a designed chart adapted from World Health Organization Oral Health Assessment Form for Adults, 2013 2) Geriatric oral health assessment Index (GOHAI) was used to assess elderly oral health self-perc