Impact of oral conditions on the quality of life of hospitalized elderly people

Abstract

Objective: Identify the impact of oral conditions on the quality of life of hospitalized elderly individuals. Methods: Thus, an observational, cross-sectional, descriptive, and quantitative study was developed with 65 patients aged 60 years or older, hospitalized in a public hospital. A semi-structured sociodemographic questionnaire and the Geriatric Oral Health Assessment Index (GOHAI) were applied, with analysis performed in Microsoft Excel. Results: The majority were between 66 and 75 years old (38.5%), had incomplete elementary education (41.5%), and an average hospital stay of 4 to 10 days (50.8%). 92.3% considered oral health important and valued dental care (95.4%). 89.7% needed oral rehabilitation, but only 67.7% used prostheses. According to the GOHAI, 43.1% indicated difficulty chewing and 70.8% reported dissatisfaction with the appearance of their teeth; 69.3% expressed concern about oral health and 66.2% reported sensitivity; while 73.8% did not experience social isolation. 65.2% obtained a low GOHAI score, demonstrating that oral health strongly impacts quality of life, while 18.8% had a medium score and 10.1% achieved a high score. Conclusion: The results show that oral conditions affect physical and psychosocial aspects, highlighting the need for public policies for education, prevention, and rehabilitation, promoting the well-being and efficient recovery of the elderly.