Prosthetic Rehabilitation of Edentulism Prevents Malnutrition in Nursing Home Residents
- Autores: Andreas Zenthöfer, Peter Rammelsberg, Tomás Cabrera Chaves, Alexander J. Hassel
- Localización: The International Journal of Prosthodontics, ISSN-e 1942-4426, Vol. 28, Nº. 2, 2015, págs. 198-200
- Idioma: inglés
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Resumen
To investigate the association between prosthetic rehabilitation and malnutrition in institutionalized elders, 255 nursing home residents were recruited for this study and underwent a comprehensive dental examination. The body mass index (BMI) was administered to estimate the nutritional condition. Participants with BMI < 20 kg/mÇ were categorized as malnourished (n = 33), whereas all others were categorized as adequately nourished (n = 222). The number of teeth present and the prevalence of prosthetic rehabilitation were significantly lower in malnourished participants (P < .05). Malnutrition risk was 4.6 times higher for participants who were edentulous and did not wear dentures. Adequate replacement of teeth is important to prevent malnutrition in institutionalized older people.
