title: Oral and general health status in patients treated in a dental consultation clinic of a geriatric ward in Bern, Switzerland.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  This audit reports on the oral and general health of patients who were treated in a dental consultation clinic of a geriatric hospital.
  
  
  METHODS
  Dental and medical records were obtained from 112 female and 80 male patients (mean age, 83.7 ± 8.2 years) who attended a dental consultation. Data analysis included the general health [American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) classification, number of diagnoses, cognitive function] and dental state in the age strata 60-69, 70-79, 80-89 and 90-99 years.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Seventy-four per cent of patients were aged over 80 years. The prevalence of ASA-P4 and P3 varied between age groups. Most patients (>86%) had more than three chronic diseases. Cognitive impairment was present in almost half of both older age cohorts (43 and 50%). Half of the patients (52%) were edentulous. In dentate patients, the average number of teeth was 12 ± 6 and differed in the maxilla significantly between age groups (p = 0.005). There was no significant association between dental state, ASA classification and systemic conditions.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The profile of this cohort reflects a poor oral and general health status. The results underline the importance of an interdisciplinary consultation in a geriatric ward where oral health care is an integral part.
authors: Department of Prosthodontics, School of Dental Medicine, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland. joannis.katsoulis@zmk.unibe.ch
authors: Joannis
authors: J
authors: Katsoulis
authors: Martin
authors: M
authors: Schimmel
authors: Marianna
authors: M
authors: Avrampou
authors: Andreas E
authors: AE
authors: Stuck
authors: Regina
authors: R
authors: Mericske-Stern
mesh_terms: D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002908:Chronic Disease; D003072:Cognition Disorders / Q000145:classification; D015331:Cohort Studies; D019230:Dental Audit; D003796:Dental Service, Hospital; D005260:Female; D016330:Frail Elderly; D015577:Geriatric Assessment; D005853:Geriatrics; D006304:Health Status; D006782:Hospitals, Special; D006801:Humans; D007326:Institutionalization; D007576:Jaw, Edentulous, Partially / Q000145:classification; D008297:Male; D008437:Maxilla / Q000473:pathology; D008875:Middle Aged; D009066:Mouth, Edentulous / Q000145:classification; D009909:Oral Health; D010510:Periodontal Diseases / Q000145:classification; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012737:Sex Factors; D013557:Switzerland