Relationship between oral intake level and oral health assessment tool scores in the convalescent ward

Purpose: To examine the relationship between oral intake function and oral health status in convalescent inpatients. Methods: Subjects were 222 patients admitted to a convalescent hospital between 1 January and 30 June 2018. Investigation items were age, sex, causative disease, body mass index, functional oral intake scale (FOIS), functional independence measure, occlusal contact, assistance with oral cleaning, and oral health assessment tool (OHAT) scores. Multiple regression analysis was performed with FOIS as the dependent variable, and investigation items were related to FOIS as independent variables. Results: Results of multiple regression analysis for all patients suggested that saliva and denture scores were significantly associated with FOIS. However, analysis excluding non-oral feeding patients did not show a significant association between FOIS and OHAT scores. Conclusion: The results of this study suggest that oral health status is associated with oral intake function. In addition, the oral health status of inpatients may be strongly related to whether or not they are eating orally. Therefore, it is necessary to take good care of oral health in non-oral feeding patients in the convalescent ward.