Periodontitis and orofacial health-related systemic impairment in patients with brain injury: a factor analysis approach. (5th January 2021)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Kothari, Simple F.; Nascimento, Gustavo G.; Jakobsen, Mille B.; Nielsen, Jørgen F.; Kothari, Mohit
• Is Part Of: Brain injury. Volume 35:Number 1(2021)
• Page Start: 96
• Page End: 102
• Publication Date: 2021-01-05
• Subjects: Brain injury -- cognitive impairment -- motor impairment -- oral health -- periodontitis -- rehabilitation -- stroke; Brain damage -- Periodicals; Brain -- Wounds and injuries -- Periodicals; Brain Injuries -- Periodicals; 617.481
• DOI: 10.1080/02699052.2020.1858497
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0269-9052

Abstract

ABSTRACT: Aim : To investigate the association of periodontitis to orofacial health-related systemic impairment in patients with acquired brain injury (ABI). Methods: Ninety individuals with ABI were included. Full mouth periodontal examination was performed. Orofacial health-related 'motor' and 'cognitive' scores, dysphagia and feeding status, onset of pneumonia were retrieved from e-journal. Factor analysis dubbed periodontal data as 'moderate' and 'severe' periodontitis while orofacial health-related brain injury scores were dubbed into 'motor' and 'cognitive' domains. Association between periodontal findings and systemic impairments were analyzed using multivariable linear regression models. Results: Higher scores of 'moderate' periodontitis were significantly associated with lower scores of motor impairment (β = −0.2), feeding tube dependency (β = 0.2) and dysphagia (β = 1.21), whereas higher scores of 'severe' periodontitis were associated with lower scores of cognition (β = −0.2) and reduced dental visits (β = −0.2). Both periodontal domains were significantly associated with aging (β = 0.02) and onset of pneumonia (β = 0.5–0.7). Conclusions: Robust association between 'moderate' periodontitis and motor impairment, feeding problems and dysphagia, reflects an acute clinical condition, demanding cross-disciplinary intervention. Periodontal examination can be an early indicator tool for systemic chronic conditions, as ABI and periodontitis share a common environmental, social and biological background. Periodontitis majorly affects ageing population and are prone to pneumonia, compromising rehabilitation plan.