Table 2 Oral symptoms on the day perceived as dying and on the day of death
From: Oral symptoms in dying nursing home patients. Results from the prospective REDIC study
Oral symptoms | Day perceived as dying (N = 82) | Day of death (N = 134) | P-value | Missing data day perceived as dying N (%) | Missing data day of death N (%) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Own teeth | 47% | 52% | 0.87 | 20 (24) | 9 (7) |
Prosthesis in mouth last 24Â h | 22% | 16% | 0.35 | 20 (24) | 19 (14) |
Mouth care the last 24Â h | 93% | 89% | 0.34 | 20 (24) | 12 (9) |
Mouth care frequency, times/day* | Â | Â | Â | Â | Â |
once | 16% | 14% | 0.63 | 23 (28) | 29 (22) |
3 times | 21% | 13% | Â | Â | Â |
> 3 times | 48% | 56% |  |  |  |
Every hour | 16% | 16% | Â | Â | Â |
Symptoms | Â | Â | Â | Â | Â |
Xerostomia | 73% | 66% | 0.35 | 18 (22) | 12 (9) |
Mucus | 45% | 39% | 0.58 | 19 (23) | 12 (9) |
Crust | 32% | 32% | 0.64 | 18 (22) | 13 (10) |
Halitosis | 41% | 41% | 0.64 | 18 (22) | 15 (11) |
Bleedings | 9% | 9% | 0.33 | 18 (22) | 12 (9) |
Sore | 2% | 8% | 0.39 | 18 (22) | 12 (9) |
Candidiasis | 11% | 6% | 0.44 | 18 (22) | 12 (9) |
Other infection | 2% | 5% | 0.44 | 18 (22) | 12 (9) |
Pain at rest | 9% | 6% | 0.72 | 19 (23) | 13 (10) |
Pain during mouth care | 21% | 12% | 0.20 | 22 (27) | 13 (10) |
Masticatory problems | 57% | 50% | 0.44 | 20 (25) | 17 (13) |
Dysphagia | 66% | 59% | 0.44 | 18 (22) | 14 (11) |
Reduced ability to speak | 16% | 10% | 0.25 | 18 (22) | 14 (11) |
Two symptoms or more | 88% | 69% | < 0.001 | 26 (32) | 23 (17) |
Six symptoms or more | 16% | 20% | < 0.001 | 26 (32) | 23 (17) |
Nutrition | Â | Â | Â | Â | Â |
Low fluid intake | 84% | 78% | 0.71 | 23 (28) | 13 (10) |
Dehydration | 66% | 65% | 0.26 | 22 (27) | 13 (10) |
Low food intake | 63% | 63% | 0.81 | 22 (27) | 13 (10) |
Cachexia | 48% | 41% | 0.16 | 21 (26) | 13 (10) |