Preprint Article Version 1 This version is not peer-reviewed

Relationship between Swallowing Function and Serum Albumin Levels in Japanese Older People Aged ≥ 75 Years

Komei Iwai
* ORCID logo ,
Tetsuji Azuma
,
Takatoshi Yonenaga
,
Yasuyuki Sasai
,
Yoshinari Komatsu
,
Koichiro Tabata
,
Taketsugu Nomura
,
Iwane Sugiura
,
Yujo Inagawa
,
Yusuke Matsumoto
,
Seiji Nakashima
,
Yoshikazu Abe
,
Takaaki Tomofuji
ORCID logo
Version 1 : Received: 27 September 2024 / Approved: 27 September 2024 / Online: 29 September 2024 (02:44:01 CEST)

How to cite: Iwai, K.; Azuma, T.; Yonenaga, T.; Sasai, Y.; Komatsu, Y.; Tabata, K.; Nomura, T.; Sugiura, I.; Inagawa, Y.; Matsumoto, Y.; Nakashima, S.; Abe, Y.; Tomofuji, T. Relationship between Swallowing Function and Serum Albumin Levels in Japanese Older People Aged ≥ 75 Years. Preprints 2024, 2024092242. https://doi.org/10.20944/preprints202409.2242.v1 Iwai, K.; Azuma, T.; Yonenaga, T.; Sasai, Y.; Komatsu, Y.; Tabata, K.; Nomura, T.; Sugiura, I.; Inagawa, Y.; Matsumoto, Y.; Nakashima, S.; Abe, Y.; Tomofuji, T. Relationship between Swallowing Function and Serum Albumin Levels in Japanese Older People Aged ≥ 75 Years. Preprints 2024, 2024092242. https://doi.org/10.20944/preprints202409.2242.v1

Abstract

Background/Objectives: This cross-sectional study aimed to investigate the relationship between swallowing function and serum albumin levels in Japanese older people (age ≥ 75 years). Methods: A total of 3258 participants (1325 males, 1933 females; mean age, 80.8 years) who had a dental checkup in Gifu City, Japan, between April 2020 and March 2021 were recruited. Swallowing function was assessed using the repetitive saliva swallow test, with poor swallowing function defined as swallowing fewer than three times in 30 seconds. A serum albumin level < 3.6 G/dL was considered low. Results: In total, 78 participants (2%) had a low serum albumin level. These participants were significantly more likely to be older (p < 0.001), male (p = 0.030), to have circulatory disease (p < 0.001), support/care-need certification (p < 0.001), poor tongue and lip function (p < 0.001), poor swallowing function (p < 0.001), and number of present teeth ≥ 20 teeth (p = 0.001). Furthermore, after adjusting for age, gender, circulatory disease, support/care-need certification, number of present teeth, tongue and lip function, and swallowing function, a low serum albumin level was positively associated with older (odds ratio [OR]: 1.115; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.064–1.169), male (OR: 2.208; 95% CI: 1.360–3.584), circulatory disease (OR: 1.829; 95% CI: 1.079–3.099), support/care-need certification (OR: 2.087; 95% CI: 1.208–3.606), and poor swallowing function (OR: 2.379; CI: 1.377–4.112). Conclusions: These results suggest a positive relationship between poor swallowing function and low serum albumin levels in Japanese older people.

Keywords

cross-sectional study; older people; serum albumin level; swallowing function

Subject

Public Health and Healthcare, Public Health and Health Services

Copyright: This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.

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