Concordance in oral frailty five-item checklist and oral hypofunction: Examining their respective characteristics.

OBJECTIVES: This study examined the diagnostic concordance and characteristics of the oral frailty five-item checklist (OF-5) and oral hypofunction (OHF). MATERIALS AND METHODS: In this extensive cross-sectional study, older adults were enrolled at a research hospital frailty clinic between July 2021 and July 2023. The diagnosis of OF-5 and OHF was conducted using the proposed assessment methods. The concordance rate of these criteria was determined by evaluating each patient and calculating the number of patients meeting each diagnosis's criteria. Patients who tested negative for the OF-5 and OHF criteria and those who met only one criterion were included in the OF-5 and OHF characteristic analysis. RESULTS: A total of 248 patients were included in the analysis (mean age 77.6 ± 6.8 years; 36.7 % men). Among the patients, 114 (46.0 %) and 116 (46.8 %) met the OF-5 and OHF criteria, respectively. Furthermore, 78 (31.5 %) participants met both the OF-5 and OHF criteria, whereas 96 (38.7 %) did not meet either criterion. Moreover, 36 (14.5 %) and 38 (15.3 %) patients tested exclusively positive for OF-5 and OHF, respectively. The OF-5-positive and OHF-negative group showed an older age, lower Mini Nutritional Assessment Short Form score, and higher fall risk than the OF-5-negative and OHF-negative group. However, no significant differences were observed between the OF-5-negative and OHF-positive and OF-5-negative and OHF-negative groups. CONCLUSION: The concordance rate of OF-5 and OHF diagnoses was 70.2 %. OF-5 showed a potential association with nutritional status and fall risk. Further longitudinal analyses are warranted to explore our study results.

Prevalence and Characteristics of the Course of Dysphagia in Hospitalized Older Adults.

Sarcopenic dysphagia (SD) is an emerging concern in geriatric medicine. This study aimed to identify the prevalence, progression, and distinct attributes of SD in patients in the Department of Geriatric Medicine. Older adult patients admitted between 2021 and 2022 were enrolled. The department conducts a comprehensive geriatric assessment (CGA) combined with a multidisciplinary team-based intervention, setting the standard for medical care. We diligently assessed the occurrence and development of dysphagia at both the admission and discharge phases. Of the 180 patients analyzed (38.9% male, mean age 86.0 ± 6.6 years), 22.8% were diagnosed with SD at admission, thrice the rate of other dysphagia variants. Only one patient had new-onset dysphagia during hospitalization, attributed to SD. Patients with SD showed a better recovery rate (18.9%) than those with other dysphagia types. Patients with diminished swallowing capacity had compromised nutritional profiles, diminished energy and protein consumption, and extended fasting durations. Although sarcopenia is a prevalent inducer of dysphagia in older adults, an integrated approach in geriatric medicine involving rehabilitation, nutrition, and dentistry is pivotal. Strategies rooted in CGA promise potential for addressing dysphagia.