Oral health status as predictor of 1-year mortality after discharge from an acute geriatric unit

Key summary points Aim Defining the role of oral health evaluation in prediction of mortality in a cohort of patients admitted to an acute geriatric unit. Findings Plaque Index and periodontal disease are independent predictors of 1-year mortality and improve accuracy of a Multidimensional Prognostic Index. Message Oral health evaluation, if integrated in a comprehensive assessment, adds significant information to estimate prognosis of hospitalized patients. Purpose Predicting mortality of older patients is a difficult, yet crucial task, which has lead to development of several prognostic tools. We hypothesized that the evaluation of oral health, which is often neglected, might be helpful to improve 1-year mortality prediction in a cohort of patients > 65 years admitted to an acute geriatric unit. Methods We assessed 200 patients using the Decayed, Missing or Filled Teeth tool, the Periodontal Screening and Recording tool and the Plaque Index. A comprehensive geriatric assessment was performed to measure functional, cognitive, nutritional and comorbidity status and to calculate the Multidimensional Prognostic Index (MPI). An age- and sex-adjusted regression model was used to identify independent predictors of 1-year mortality. Area under ROC curve (AUROC) was calculated to assess predictive accuracy of MPI risk groups before and after correction for dental examination results. Results Plaque Index and Periodontal Screening and Recording tool were associated with 1-year mortality. Participants with periodontal disease had a fivefold higher risk of death ( p