P714 - ORAL HEALTH PROBLEMS AMONG INPATIENTS AND ADVERSE OUTCOMES AT 180 DAYS FOLLOW-UP

P714

ORAL HEALTH PROBLEMS AMONG INPATIENTS AND ADVERSE OUTCOMES AT 180 DAYS FOLLOW-UP

S. L. Mikkelsen^1,*, C. S. Taylor², A. Dzinic², N. K. Jørgensen², M. H. Pedersen², A. H. Langballe², T. C. Peters², A. Tracey³, L. B. Skadhauge¹, R. S. Olsen¹, M. Holst¹

¹Centre for Nutrition and Intestinal Failure, Department of Gastroenterology, Aalborg University Hospital, ²Department of Clinical Medicine, Aalborg University, ³Department of Quality and Coherence, Aalborg University Hospital, Aalborg, Denmark

Rationale: Poor oral health among inpatients increases the risk of infection, mortality and prolongs hospital stay. The aim of the study was to identify characteristics of patients with higher score evaluated using the revised oral assessment guide (ROAG)(score 8-28) and to investigate adverse outcome at 180 days follow-up.

Methods: In this single armed prospective, quality improvement study, 257 inpatients were included through referrals by nurses, dieticians, and doctors at wards at a Danish University Hospital. The dental hygienist (DH) evaluated patient’s oral health with ROAG and provided oral care and follow-ups. Patients’ medical records were used for data collection and adverse outcomes evaluated at 180 days follow-up.

Results: Among included patients(60.7% male, median age 73(range:21.0;94.0) years, median BMI of 24.4(range:11.0;45.3) kg/m²), 91.1% were at nutritional risk of the NRS-screened patients(n=169). Among the patients, median ROAG score was 11(8;21), 70.0% had a ROAG between 9-12 and the highest ROAG parameter were tongue and gingiva. Higher ROAG score(ROAG>10) was associated with a decrease in ROAG after follow-up visits with DH(p=0.001). Higher ROAG were seen in patients with oxygen supplementation(OR:2.16,95%CI:[1.02;4.61]) and inhalation medications(OR:3.90,95%CI:[1.15;13.25]). Patients receiving preventative oral care had lower OR for a ROAG score>10(OR:0.08,95%CI:[0.03;0.16]). Higher ROAG score showed no association to readmissions(p>0.05), while a higher hazard ratio(HR) for mortality at follow-up was seen(HR:2.24,95%CI:[1.03;4.85]) after adjusted for age and sex.

Conclusion: Patients with oxygen supplementation and inhalation medications had increased risk of ROAG score>10. Higher ROAG did not clearly show increased risks of readmissions but was associated with increased risk of mortality. These patient groups may benefit more from early oral care interventions by a DH to reduce the risk of mortality.

Disclosure of Interest: None declared