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Objectives This cross-sectional study aimed to examine the oral health of malnourished acute-care hospital inpatients, who were the subjects of a nutritional support team (NST). We also aimed to elucidate the systemic and nutritional factors associated with the oral health of those patients. Background Interventions by NST are essential for inpatient nutrition management and require the active participation of dental professionals. However, information is limited regarding the state of oral health among acute-stage malnourished inpatients. Materials and methods We enrolled 255 hospitalised patients (101 women, mean age: 69.7 ± 14.4 years) who were referred to an NST for nutrition management between April 2016 and July 2019. The main outcome was the Oral Health Assessment Tool (OHAT) scores. Moreover, we assessed participants' demographic characteristics, nutritional status, number of natural and functional teeth, posterior occlusal support, denture use, Dysphagia Severity Scale, whether oral health management was needed, and the methods of nutrition intake. Results Several participants presented with a deteriorated oral health. Consequently, oral health management was often regarded necessary in these patients. Approximately half were fed by parenteral or tube feeding. Multiple regression analysis revealed the OHAT score has a positive association with age (P = .008), and a negative association with body mass index (P = .009) and the method of nutrition intake (P = .028). Conclusion Malnourished inpatients at an acute care hospital who were subject to an NST had a deteriorated oral health status. Additionally, poor oral health was associated with poor nutritional status and nutrition intake methods.

Malnourished older inpatients referred to a nutrition support team (NST) usually receive multidisciplinary oral health management during NST intervention. However, the effects of multidisciplinary oral health management on the nutrition-intake method and oral health in these patients remain unclear. This longitudinal study aimed to investigate the effects of NST-mediated multidisciplinary oral health management on the nutrition-intake methods, oral health, and the systemic and oral factors influencing the changes in the nutrition-intake method. A total of 117 inpatients (66 men, 51 women, mean age, 71.9 ± 12.5 years) who underwent NST-mediated multidisciplinary oral health management between April 2016 and July 2019 were enrolled. Demographic data and Functional Oral Intake Scale (FOIS), Dysphagia Severity Scale (DSS), and Oral Health Assessment Tool (OHAT) scores at the time of referral to the NST and completion of the NST intervention were evaluated. After multidisciplinary NST intervention, FOIS, DSS, and OHAT scores showed significant improvements (p < 0.001). Even after adjusting the results for systemic parameters, FOIS score improvement correlated positively with the length of NST intervention (p = 0.030) and DSS score improvement (p < 0.001) as well as OHAT score improvement (p = 0.047). NST interventions with multidisciplinary oral health management could improve the nutrition-intake method.

This study aimed to evaluate the role of the general condition and oral health status in determining the primary nutritional route and suitable food form for oral ingestion among malnourished inpatients. This cross-sectional study included 255 inpatients referred to a nutrition support team (NST), which included dental professionals, at an acute care hospital. We assessed the participants’ basic information, and Dysphagia Severity Scale (DSS) and Oral Health Assessment Tool (OHAT) scores. The nutritional intake mode was evaluated based on the Functional Oral Intake Scale scores at the initial NST consultation (FOIS-I), and then revised by the NST based on the participants’ general condition and oral health (FOIS-R). There was a divergence between FOIS-I and FOIS-R, with FOIS-R being significantly higher than FOIS-I (p &lt, 0.001). Logistic regression analysis of FOIS-R identified that consciousness level (odds ratio (OR): 0.448, 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.214–0.935) and DSS (OR: 3.521, 95% CI: 2.574–4.815) significantly affected the oral nutrition intake. Among participants who could ingest orally (FOIS-R ≥ 3, n = 126), FOIS score had significant negative and positive associations with the OHAT and DSS scores, respectively. These findings suggest that appropriate assessment of oral health status, including swallowing function, might contribute to high-quality nutrition management.

This study was done to develop a Food Frequency Questionnaire (FFQ) for assessing calcium intake in Vietnamese based on data from the National Nutrition Survey in 2000. From the data, a total of 36 calcium-rich food items were selected for the FFQ by ranking food items according to their contribution to the population intake of nutrients. The FFQ was validated in 140 postmenopausal women by comparing estimates of calcium intake from the FFQ with those from multi-pass 24 h recalls. The results showed that the Pearson correlation coefficient between the 2 methods was 0.84 (p0.001), and that the weighted kappa value was 0.44. Cross-classification analysis indicated that 82.1% of subjects were classified into the same or adjacent quartile by both methods. No subject was grossly misclassified by the FFQ. There is no significant difference of calcium intake between the 2 methods (by paired t test, p0.05). A reproducibility study also presented good correlation between 2 administrations of the FFQ, with Pearson correlation coefficient being 0.93 (p0.001) and weighted kappa value being 0.67. In conclusion, this FFQ is useful and reliable for estimating calcium intake in population-based epidemiological studies in postmenopausal Vietnamese women.