Pilot study on the relationship between oral function or subjective symptoms and appetite

• Published in: Journal of oral rehabilitation Vol. 51; no. 11; pp. 2261 - 2269
• Main Authors: Yamaga, Ryosuke, Chikaishi, Masato, Iwasaki, Toshihiro, Tada, Akira, Mizutani, Saki, Amano, Kota, Iwase, Yoko, Taniguchi, Hiroshige
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England Wiley Subscription Services, Inc 01.11.2024
• Subjects: Anorexia; Appetite; Body mass index; Mastication; masticatory function; Oral cavity; oral dysfunction; Pilot projects; Regression analysis; Skeletal muscle; subjective symptoms; Surveys; anorexia; masticatory function; oral dysfunction; subjective symptoms
• ISSN: 0305-182X; 1365-2842; 1365-2842
• DOI: 10.1111/joor.13811

Objective This pilot study evaluated the relationships between appetite and oral function, and between appetite and the subjective symptoms of decreased oral function. Methods Seventy‐one adult dental clinic patients (22 males, 66.0 ± 14.0 years) participated in this study. A Council on Nutrition Appetite Questionnaire score of ≤28 indicated anorexia, and the Mini Nutritional Assessment Short‐form, body mass index and skeletal muscle mass index were used to define subject characteristics. Seven oral function tests and seven subjective symptoms related to oral function were evaluated. The relationship between subject characteristics, oral function tests, subjective symptoms and anorexia was analysed using the chi‐square test and univariate and multivariate logistic regression. Result There were significant differences between the normal appetite group and the anorexia group for the 10‐item Eating Assessment Tool (EAT‐10) survey and the question ‘Food remains in the oral cavity after eating’ (p < .05). Univariate logistic regression found significant differences in the items of masticatory function, the EAT‐10 survey and the question ‘Food remains in the oral cavity after eating’. Multivariate logistic regression revealed significant differences in masticatory function (AOR 4.35; 95% CI: 1.03–18.35; p = .045) and EAT‐10 (AOR 6.27; 95% CI: 1.40–24.02; p = .016). Conclusion This pilot study investigated the influence of factors related to oral function on appetite. Relationships were found among poor masticatory function, poor swallowing function and anorexia.