Purpose: The purpose of this study was to analyze the association between the number of medications and oral functions.
Methods: The study participants were selected from individuals who were attending regular follow-up as hospital outpatients. Patient profiles, the number of medications used, and measured values of oral function were extracted. These data were analyzed statistically for sex, age, and grouping according to the number of medications taken (no medication, G1; 1-4 medications, G2; ≥5 medications, G3). Conditional logistic regression analysis was performed to evaluate the effects of medications on oral function.
Results: A total of 172 patients (66 males and 106 females) were registered; 50 participants belonged to G1, 68 to G2, and 54 to G3. Significant inter-group differences were identified for tongue-lip motor function (oral diadochokinesis: ODK) and maximum tongue pressure in terms of age, but not in terms of sex. G3 showed significantly lower ODK than G1, and logistic regression analysis revealed that the number of medications was significantly associated with ODK/pa/. Age and MTP also significantly affected ODK/ta/ and /ka/.
Conclusion: Within the limitations of this study, the present findings suggest that the number of medications taken has an impact on tongue-lip motor function.
Keywords: oral function; oral hypofunction; polypharmacy; university hospital outpatients.