Oral symptoms in dying nursing home patients. Results from the prospective REDIC study

• DOI: 10.1186/s12903-024-03901-x
• Publication Date: 2024-01-25T17:02:27Z
• Authors: Reidun K. N.M. Sa...; Bettina S. Husebo; Geir Selbaek; Gunhild Strand; Monica Patrascu; Manal Mustafa; Sverre Bergh
• Keywords: Research; Palliative Care; 610; Nursing homes; Pain; RK1-715; Oral health problems; Xerostomia; Nursing Homes; 03 medical and health sciences; 0302 clinical medicine; Observational study; Dentistry; 616; Humans; Dementia; Longitudinal Studies; Prospective Studies; Deglutition Disorders

Abstract Background The mouth is a central organ for communication and fluid intake, also dying nursing home patients. This study describes the prevalence severity of oral symptoms from admission until day perceived death. Methods A prospective, longitudinal cohort including 696 patients who were admitted to 47 Norwegian homes in 35 municipalities. During first year their stay, 189 died (27%), whom 82 participants assessed on they as 134 Mouth care, nutrition, bedsores with Residents’ Assessment Instrument (RAI-NH) palliative care (RAI-PC). Pain intensity was Mobilization-Observation-Behaviour-Intensity-Dementia-2 Scale (MOBID-2). Results proportion ≥ 6 increased 16% when 20% death ( P = 0.001). On death, xerostomia (66%), dysphagia (59%), mastication problems (50%) most frequently observed symptoms. Only received every hour 12% pain during this procedure. Compared people without dementia, those diagnosis dementia at N 112, 86%) had more (50% vs. 73%; 32% 56% 0.038), respectively) Conclusions high extent such xerostomia, dysphagia, underline need systematic assessment improved dementia. Trial registration Clinicaltrials.gov NCT01920100 08/08/2013. First submission BMC 15/03/2023.