Oral Health Status of Stroke Patients Related to Residual Symptoms: A Case Control Epidemiological Study in Hungary

Objectives: Stroke is leading factor of deaths in the civilized world. Its connection with oral health is in focus of the medical literature. The aim of this study therefore was to examine the oral health of subjects who previously suffered from stroke, by statistical means and to provide a guide for the dental treatment of these patients.
Methods: 102 stroke patients at least one year after the stroke episode and 98 age and sex-matched healthy controls were examined: dental and medical (stroke) histories were recorded, and then followed by an orofacial examination. A set up of three “dental” subgroups of stroke patients were carried out based on their residual symptoms, functional deficiency of limbs, chewing and swallowing difficulties. Indeces quantifying oral hygiene (OHI-S), dental status (DMF-T number), periodontal status (clinical attachment loss (CAL), CPITN, Mühlemann index), furthermore the Prosthetic index were assessed. Statistical comparison was performed between patient- and age- and sex matched control subjects and between subgroups of stroke patients.


Results: Oral health and dental status of stroke patients showed an inferior condition compared with the control group. Stroke patients had significantly more decayed 2.3 ± 3 vs.1.1 ± 1.8 ( p=0.01), and missing 19.3±9.5 vs. 15.5±9.3 ( p=0.005), and significantly less filled 3.6 ±4.7 vs. 7.7±5.6 (p<0.001) teeth than controls. CAL evaluating the periodontal condition was double in patient-, compared to the control group (p<0.001). Comparison of stroke subgroups revealed that the most severe findings concern patients with chewing and swallowing disabilities.



Conclusions: Results suggest, that combination of risk factors of stroke, the residual neurological signs after stroke, and inferior socioeconomic conditions results in bad oral hygiene, poor dental and periodontal condition and lower prosthetic index. Special attention should be payed for oral hygiene and dental treatment of such patients, to provide a precondition of healthy nourishment.