Ryosuke Yanagida1, Koji Hara2, Takatoshi Iida3, Takashi Tohara4, Yasushi Tamada5, Shunsuke Minakuchi6, Chizuru Namiki1, Takuma Okumura1, Haruka Tohara1. 1. Department of Dysphagia Rehabilitation, Graduate School of Medical and Dental Sciences, Tokyo Medical and Dental University (TMDU), Tokyo, Japan. 2. Department of Dentistry for the Special Patient, Kanagawa Dental University, Kanagawa, Japan. 3. Department of Speech-Language-Hearing Therapy, Health Sciences University of Hokkaido, Hokkaido, Japan. 4. Department of Rehabilitation for Speech and Swallowing Disorders, Tama Oral Rehabilitation Clinic, The Nippon Dental University School of Life Dentistry, Tokyo, Japan. 5. Department of Dysphagia Rehabilitation, Nagasaki University Hospital, Nagasaki, Japan. 6. Department of Gerodontology and Oral Rehabilitation, Graduate School of Medical and Dental Sciences, Tokyo Medical and Dental University (TMDU), Tokyo, Japan.
Abstract
INTRODUCTION: Jaw-opening force (JOF) can be a potential screening tool for dysphagia. However, confounding variables such as comorbidities or physical and oral functions that are associated with the physiology of swallowing have not previously been examined. Adjusting for these variables could reveal the relationship between JOF and dysphagia and indicate whether JOF is an independent factor associated with dysphagia. We therefore aimed to assess the efficacy of using JOF for dysphagia screening in this multi-institutional study. METHODS: Community-dwelling older adults over the age of 65 years (N = 403) who visited the university dental hospitals and participated in health surveys (mean age ± standard deviation, 77.1 ± 7.0 years; range, 65-96 years) between November 2018 and January 2020 were included in this study. The JOFs of all participants were measured. The measured JOF was compared with the presence of dysphagia, which was defined using the Functional Oral Intake Scale and the Eating Assessment Tool-10. RESULTS: Multiple logistic regression analysis revealed that the presence of dysphagia was independently associated with JOF, calf circumference, and dependence after adjusting for age and sex. DISCUSSION/ CONCLUSION: Decreased JOF can be a risk factor for dysphagia in older adults.
INTRODUCTION: Jaw-opening force (JOF) can be a potential screening tool for dysphagia. However, confounding variables such as comorbidities or physical and oral functions that are associated with the physiology of swallowing have not previously been examined. Adjusting for these variables could reveal the relationship between JOF and dysphagia and indicate whether JOF is an independent factor associated with dysphagia. We therefore aimed to assess the efficacy of using JOF for dysphagia screening in this multi-institutional study. METHODS: Community-dwelling older adults over the age of 65 years (N = 403) who visited the university dental hospitals and participated in health surveys (mean age ± standard deviation, 77.1 ± 7.0 years; range, 65-96 years) between November 2018 and January 2020 were included in this study. The JOFs of all participants were measured. The measured JOF was compared with the presence of dysphagia, which was defined using the Functional Oral Intake Scale and the Eating Assessment Tool-10. RESULTS: Multiple logistic regression analysis revealed that the presence of dysphagia was independently associated with JOF, calf circumference, and dependence after adjusting for age and sex. DISCUSSION/ CONCLUSION: Decreased JOF can be a risk factor for dysphagia in older adults.