Relationship between the rate of a decreased oral function and the nutrient intake in community-dwelling older persons: An examination using oral function-related items in a questionnaire for latter-stage elderly people

Abstract

Aim: To determine the rate of a decreased oral function using questions from the Kihon checklist corresponding to the Questionnaire for Latter-stage Elderly People and to clarify nutrient intake in older persons.

Methods: This study targeted 511 older people (217 men, 294 women, average age 73.1±5.6 years old). Their oral function was evaluated using questions on the masticatory function and swallowing function from the Kihon checklist, corresponding to questions on the oral function in the Questionnaire for Latter-stage Elderly People. Participants who had at least one symptom measured were defined as the applicable group (AG). In addition, to evaluate the nutrient intake of the participants, interviews were conducted using the Food Frequency Questionnaire Based on Food Groups.

Results: The rate of inclusion in the AG was 32.9% for the total sample, 28.2% for early-stage elderly people, and 40.1% for latter-stage elderly people. The AG rates did not differ significantly between men and women. For latter-stage elderly people, the protein-energy ratio and intakes of total energy, protein, pantothenic acid, folic acid, vitamin B6, niacin, vitamin K, copper, zinc, phosphorus, magnesium, potassium, and total dietary fiber were significantly lower in the AG than in the non-AG.

Conclusion: The evaluation of placement in the AG through questions on the oral function from the Kihon checklist corresponding to the Questionnaire for Latter-stage Elderly People demonstrated that the rate of a decreased oral function was higher in latter-stage elderly people than in early-stage elderly people. In addition, the latter-stage elderly people in the AG had a lower nutrient intake.