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Oral hygiene important as oral microorganisms linked to long COVID among elderly
Oral hygiene is important as oral microorganisms are linked to long-term COVID among the elderly suggests a new study published in the Journal of Dentistry.
A study was done to describe acute and long-term COVID-19 symptoms among older elderly Swedes and to find predictive factors for the development of symptoms associated with acute and long-term COVID-19. A questionnaire about general and oral health was mailed to all 80-year-olds (born 1942, n = 6299) and 90-year-olds (born 1932, n = 1904) in two Swedish counties. Participants reporting COVID-19 were asked to complete an additional questionnaire. Results: Overall response rate was 66 % (n = 5375). Affirmative responses to having been sick/tested positive for COVID-19 were reported by 577 persons. The response rate to the COVID-19 questionnaire was 49 %. Most (88 %) reported some general symptoms during the acute stage while 44 % reported orofacial symptom/s. Reporting of long-COVID general symptoms was 37 and 35 % for orofacial symptoms. Predictive factors for contracting COVID-19 (based on self-report from 2017) were living in an elderly housing/senior care facility, large number (>10) of weekly social contacts, being married and high school/university education. The highest odds ratio for general symptoms of long-term COVID was a single complete denture, reporting bad breath and daytime dry mouth. Regarding long-term orofacial symptoms, the highest risk factors were bad breath and a single complete denture in one jaw. Long-COVID general and orofacial symptoms are common among older elderly COVID-19 survivors. Oral microorganisms may be responsible for the development of long-COVID symptoms. Health personnel managing COVID-19 patients should carefully examine dental status, especially those with acrylic-based removable dentures, for oral signs and symptoms. If found, rigorous oral hygiene procedures should be carried out including cleaning/disinfection of the denture.
Reference:
Ann-Katrin Johansson, Ridwaan Omar, Sverre Lehmann, Josefin Sannevik, Berit Mastrovito, Anders Johansson. General and orofacial symptoms associated with acute and long COVID in 80- and 90-year-old Swedish COVID-19 survivors. Journal of Dentistry, Volume 141,
2024,104824,ISSN 0300-5712. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jdent.2023.104824.
(https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0300571223004104)
Keywords:
Oral hygiene, oral microorganisms, long COVID, COVID elderly, Journal of Dentistry, Ageing; Corona; Denture; Dry mouth; Halitosis; Questionnaire, Ann-Katrin Johansson, Ridwaan Omar, Sverre Lehmann, Josefin Sannevik, Berit Mastrovito, Anders Johansson
Dr. Shravani Dali has completed her BDS from Pravara institute of medical sciences, loni. Following which she extensively worked in the healthcare sector for 2+ years. She has been actively involved in writing blogs in field of health and wellness. Currently she is pursuing her Masters of public health-health administration from Tata institute of social sciences. She can be contacted at editorial@medicaldialogues.in.
Dr Kamal Kant Kohli-MBBS, DTCD- a chest specialist with more than 30 years of practice and a flair for writing clinical articles, Dr Kamal Kant Kohli joined Medical Dialogues as a Chief Editor of Medical News. Besides writing articles, as an editor, he proofreads and verifies all the medical content published on Medical Dialogues including those coming from journals, studies,medical conferences,guidelines etc. Email: drkohli@medicaldialogues.in. Contact no. 011-43720751