Functional status and oral health in patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis: A cross-sectional study

Alessandro de Sire, MARCO INVERNIZZI, Martina Ferrillo, Francesca Gimigliano, Alessio BARICICH, Carlo Cisari, Fabiola DE MARCHI, Pier Luigi Foglio Bonda, Letizia Mazzini, MARIO MIGLIARIO

Risultato della ricerca: Contributo su rivistaArticolo in rivistapeer review

Abstract

Background: Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a progressive neurodegenerative disease affecting upper and lower motor neurons. The current practice of caring for patients affected by ALS involves a multidisciplinary team without any indication about oral health care. Objective: We sought to investigate the functional status and oral health in patients with ALS to define a specific multidisciplinary management. Methods: In this cross-sectional study, we included patients affected by ALS, evaluating their functional status, using the Revised ALS Functional Rating Scale (ALSFRS-R) and their oral health status through specific parameters, including Brief Oral Health Status Examination (BOHSE), Winkel Tongue Coating Index (WTCI), and Oral Food Debris Index (OFDI). Results: All 37 patients (mean age: 61.19±11.56 years) showed a poor oral status, independent from the functional status and strictly correlated to the severity of sialorrhea (p = 0.01). OFDI index was negatively correlated with the ALSFRS-R upper limb (p = 0.03). Patients with bulbar onset had significantly lower ability to perform adequate tongue movements in terms of protrusion (p = 0.006) and lateralization (p < 0.001). Significant negative correlations between survival rate and BOHSE (p = 0.03) was found. Conclusions: Taken together, our findings showed that a poor oral health status might be correlated to a worse functional status and survival time. Thus, an adequate oral health care and rehabilitation should be considered as crucial in the multidisciplinary management of patients with ALS.
Lingua originaleInglese
pagine (da-a)49-57
Numero di pagine9
RivistaNeuroRehabilitation
Volume48
Numero di pubblicazione1
DOI
Stato di pubblicazionePubblicato - 2021

Keywords

  • Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis
  • functioning
  • oral hygiene
  • oral rehabilitation
  • rehabilitation

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