Effect of Professional Oral Care on the Incidence of Pneumonia in the Elderly Living in Nursing Homes – A Pilot Study

  • Jacob Baby, MD (Chest), DTCD, MRCP (UK) Co-operative Medical College, Kochi.
  • Angel Fenol, MDS (Periodontics) Amrita School of Dentistry, AIMS, Kochi
Keywords: Oral healthcare, Elderly, Aspiration pneumonia, Nursing home care

Abstract

Objective: To evaluate the efficacy of professional oral health care on the elderly living in nursing homes in decreasing the incidence of pneumonia.
Study Design: Sixty elderly subjects between the age group of 75 to 85 (mean age 81 with a standard deviation of +/- 0.25 were included the study. They were divided into two groups: with professional oral health care and without professional health care. They were followed up for a period of one year to determine the prevalence of fever (38.5oC and above) and aspiration pneumonia.
Setting: Two nursing homes in an urban town in Kerala
Results: The prevalence of fever and aspiration pneumonia was significantly lower in subjects receiving professional oral health care than those without professional health care.
Conclusion: This study showed that professional oral health care decreases the incidence of aspiration pneumonia in elderly people.

Author Biographies

Jacob Baby, MD (Chest), DTCD, MRCP (UK), Co-operative Medical College, Kochi.

Assistant Professor, Department of Chest and TB

Angel Fenol, MDS (Periodontics), Amrita School of Dentistry, AIMS, Kochi

Reader in Periodontics

Published
2010-12-30
How to Cite
Baby, J., & Fenol, A. (2010). Effect of Professional Oral Care on the Incidence of Pneumonia in the Elderly Living in Nursing Homes – A Pilot Study. Kerala Medical Journal, 3(4), 115-118. https://doi.org/10.52314/kmj.2010.v3i4.188
Section
Original Research