Self Reported Dental Health, BMI, and Albumin in a Geriatric Population

Method: 99 patients, 70 women and 29 men, mean age 84.2, were included. They were all hospitalized in the geriatric department between June and September 2010. The study was a questionnaire, and the questions were read out loud by one of the investigators. The answers were the patient’s own experience. The patient’s mouth and teeth were not examined. BMI and albumin were taken from the patient’s medical record. Results: There was no statistical difference in albumin (mean: 31.2, 22.5) or BMI (mean: 29.3, 23.8) between patients with natural teeth, and a denture, (p = 0.12, and 0.23), but mean albumin was slightly higher in patients with natural teeth. Patients with a denture were significantly older than patients with natural teeth (p = 0.02). Conclusion: In general the patients were happy with their teeth even though 71.7% had a denture, and 44.1% said that it caused problems. All patients with natural teeth except one consulted the dentist frequently. 15% answered that they had bad dental health, but there was no significant difference in BMI and albumin between the groups. Still it is of great importance to bear in mind that when dealing with patients with digestive problems, malnutrition, infections, wounds etc. the fact that these symptoms could possibly be caused by a poor dental state should be considered, especially in geriatric patients, a group of patients that are still getting older.