Frequência de lesões de mucosa bucal em indivíduos idosos atendidos no Núcleo de Geriatria e Gerontologia da UFMG com e sem a demência de Alzheimer

Abstract

This epidemiological transversal study aimed to evaluate and compare the prevalence of oral alterations of elderly patients with Alzheimers dementia (mild/moderate) and without disease from the Nucleus of Geriatrics and Gerontology of UFMG (Instituto Jenny de Andrade Faria). The study was directed on 70 patients: 35 each group. The sample size was calculated for the comparison of proportions with 95% confidence level and 80% power test. The evaluation included medical history, demographic and behavioral data. Also, oral parameters, such as missing teeth, presence of oral lesions or alterations, denture use and condition, and oral hygiene were evaluated in all patients. Mini-mental state (MEEM) and ten-meter walking test were also analyzed for cognitive and motor evaluation, respectively. Logistic regression was used for the analysis of association between the presence of oral lesions and dementia. The mean age of participants was 77,21 years (DS=8,33), they had on average 2,24 comorbidities and used 5,33 drugs per day. The frequency of oral lesions was 53,3% and 46,7%, in the study and control group, respectively. The mean value of ten-meter walking test was 0.88 m/s, and the frequency of elderly with walking speed below 0,80 was significantly higher in the participants with dementia. The study group had a higher frequency of smokers, former smokers, drinkers and former drinkers. Elderly with dementia had significantly higher frequency of dental prostheses with 80-100% of surfaces with plaque. There was no significant association between a presence of oral lesions associated with denture and dementia.