Clinical Oral Health Status and Its Associations with Functional Dependence, Cognitive Function, and Nutritional Status in Elderly Inpatients with Disabilities in Medical-Care Institutions

Objective This study examined the oral health of elderly inpatients with disabilities and its links to functional dependence, cognitive function, and nutritional status in medical-care institutions Methods This study utilized a cross-sectional design between June and December 2025 and recruited a convenience sample of 150 elderly inpatients with disabilities from two medical-care institutions. Data collection involved oral examinations, which included the Decayed, Missing, and Filled Teeth (DMFT) index, Gingival Index (GI), and assessment of prosthetic status. Additionally, evaluations were conducted using the Barthel Index, Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) score, Mini Nutritional Assessment Short-Form (MNA-SF) score, Charlson Comorbidity Index (CCI), and medication count. Data analysis was carried out using multiple linear regression and logistic regression techniques. Results The study population demonstrated significant systemic health challenges, with a mean age of 82.79 ± 8.32 years. Severe functional dependence was observed in 72.7% of participants, cognitive impairment in 68.7%, and a risk of malnutrition in 63.3%. The oral health status was notably poor, as indicated by a mean Decayed, Missing, and Filled Teeth (DMFT) index of 25.17 ± 6.55. Additionally, 77.3% of participants exhibited non-ideal prosthetic status, and the mean Gingival Index (GI) was 1.37 ± 0.78. Multiple regression analyses identified distinct association patterns: the DMFT index was independently associated with a lower Barthel Index (B = -0.099, p < 0.001) and a lower MNA-SF score (B = -0.778, p < 0.001). The GI was independently associated with an increased number of medications (B = 0.146, p = 0.004) and a lower MNA-SF score (B = -0.151, p < 0.001). In contrast, non-ideal prosthetic status was independently associated with a higher CCI score (OR = 2.762, p = 0.009), a lower Barthel Index (OR = 0.946, p = 0.010), and a lower MMSE score (OR = 0.803, p = 0.003). Conclusion Elderly inpatients with disabilities in medical-care institutions exhibit significant oral health challenges. Distinct core health dimensions are associated with dental caries, gingival inflammation, and prosthetic status. These findings indicate that promoting oral health within this population necessitates comprehensive and tailored intervention strategies that incorporate nutritional support, functional rehabilitation, medication management, and cognitive care.