Background and aims

Sarcopenia and poor oral health are common in older patients and are associated with negative outcomes. However, evidence of their combined impact on post-stroke rehabilitation outcomes is limited. This study aimed to investigate the combined impact of sarcopenia and impaired oral health on activities of daily living (ADL), cognition, and swallowing outcomes in post-stroke patients.

Methods

A retrospective cohort study was conducted using 1,012 post-stroke patients (median age 75.6 years; 54.1 % men). Sarcopenia was diagnosed using the Asian Working Group for Sarcopenia 2019 criteria. Poor oral health was assessed using the Revised Oral Assessment Guide (ROAG) with a score ≥13 indicating impaired oral status. Functional outcomes were measured using the Functional Independence Measure (FIM) for ADL and cognition, and the Food Intake Level Scale (FILS) for swallowing status.

Results

The prevalence of sarcopenia was 45.6 % (492/1,080), impaired oral health was 27.5 % (297/1,080), and the coexistence of both conditions was 12.0 % (130/1,080). The coexistence of sarcopenia and impaired oral health was associated with poorer outcomes compared to either condition alone. After adjusting for confounders, the combination of sarcopenia and impaired oral status showed the strongest negative impact on FIM-motor (B=-8.666, 95 % CI -11.484 to -5.847), FIM-cognition (B=-1.122, 95 % CI -1.987 to -0.256), and FILS (B=-0.785, 95 % CI -1.055 to -0.514) scores at discharge.

Conclusion

The dual burden of sarcopenia and impaired oral health significantly impacts functional recovery in post-stroke patients. Comprehensive assessments and interventions targeting both conditions may optimize rehabilitation outcomes in this population.