Oral hygiene in stroke survivors undergoing rehabilitation: does upper extremity motor function matters?

ABSTRACT

Background: Traditionally, stroke rehabilitation outcomes are based on indicators of physical function, such measures may underrate the all-inclusive impact of stroke such as oral health.Objectives: To investigate the relationship between upper extremity motor function and oral hygiene status as well as the impact of stroke on Oral Health-Related Quality of Life (OHRQoL).Methods: Sixty stroke survivors were included in this cross-sectional survey. Spasticity and motor function/mobility of the affected upper extremity were assessed using the Modified Ashworth Scale and Action Research Arm Test, respectively. Oral hygiene was assessed using the Simplified Oral Hygiene Index and oral health impact was assessed using the 14-item Oral Health Impact Profile. Pearson’s moment correlation coefficient was used to determine the relationship between oral hygiene and upper extremity motor function variables.Results: There were significant relationships between the oral hygiene index and Shoulder muscles spasticity (r = 0.374, p = .01), wrist muscles spasticity (r = 0.352, p = .01), as well as basic mobility (r = 0.423, p = .01). An estimated 8% (n = 5) of study participants have their QoL strongly impacted by their oral health.Conclusions: Upper extremity motor function variables such as spasticity and basic mobility matters in determining oral hygiene status after stroke. Stroke has little impact on oral health-related quality of life.

KEYWORDS:

• Stroke
• upper extremity function
• oral Hygiene
• oral Health-related Quality of life

Acknowledgments

We acknowledge Bayero University Kano, National Assembly Abuja, and Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital Kano for providing the enabling environment and making available some basic logistics in writing and submission of this work.

Author contributions

RI and IUL developed and conceived of the study title. IUL and RI were responsible for the study design. All authors (IUL, RI, and KJR) were involved in determining and developing study materials and methods. All authors contributed to determining the choice of assessment tools included in the study. RI coordinated the data collection. All authors were involved in the drafting of the study manuscript. All authors helped in editing the final submitted manuscript. All authors have read and accepted the manuscript.

Ethical considerations

This study was approved by the Research and Ethics Committee of National Hospital Abuja (Ref: NHA/EC/03/2016), and each participant included in the study gave his/her consent.

Additional information

Funding

This research did not receive any specific grant from funding agencies in the public, commercial, or not-for-profit sectors.