Association between oral function and nutrition in gastric cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy

Objectives This study aimed to clarify the relationship between the oral assessment guide (OAG), a simple method for assessing oral function and poor nutrition in gastric cancer patients and investigate the reduction of oral mucositis through appropriate oral function management. Subjects and Methods Gastric cancer patients who underwent chemotherapy at the Nagoya Ekisaikai Hospital between January 2015 and December 2020 were evaluated. The prognostic nutritional index (PNI), as the objective variable, was used to assess nutritional status. The explanatory variables were sex, age, smoking status, body mass index (BMI), number of remaining teeth, cancer stage, albumin level, C-reactive protein level, white blood cell count and the OAG score. Results PNI was significantly associated with age, number of remaining teeth, cancer stage and the OAG score (p < 0.05) among the 217 patients. There were significant differences in age, BMI, cancer stage and the OAG score among the patients. An abnormal BMI and an advanced cancer stage were more common in older patients, and abnormal OAG scores were associated with a lower PNI. Conclusions For gastric cancer patients undergoing postoperative chemotherapy, worse oral functional status is associated with worse PNI and nutritional status.