Assessment of oral changes in 2692 intensive care unit patients: a cross-sectional study

Abstract Objectives To identify oral changes in patients admitted to an intensive care unit (ICU). Materials and Methods Retrospective, cross-sectional, descriptive study. The following data were collected at a high-complexity referral center in northeastern Brazil between 2021 and 2024: sex, age, cause of hospitalization, ventilatory support, dental condition, and type of oral changes. Results A total of 2,692 patients admitted to the ICU were evaluated; 52.1% of the patients were male and the mean age was 69.98 years (± 19.53). Oral changes were detected in 56.98% of the patients and odontogenic infections were the most prevalent (41.49%). The presence of oral changes was significantly associated with male sex (p < 0.001), age between the 6th and 7th decade of life (p < 0.001), ventilatory support (p = 0.037), being partially dentate (p < 0.001), and the number of teeth (p < 0.001). Conclusion The prevalence of oral changes was high in the sample and male patients had a higher risk of developing these changes. Clinical Relevance: The results permit to characterize the incidence of oral changes in this patient profile, reinforcing the importance of the dentist as a member of multidisciplinary care teams.