Chiaki Matsubara

1 Background Older people frequently experience disease accompanied by a rapid decline in physical function. However, a stepwise recovery is possible through appropriate treatment and rehabilitation at each care phase, namely the acute, convalescent and chronic (community-based) phases [1]. The acute phase is the period immediately following disease onset, when intensive medical care aimed primarily at early stabilization of the condition is provided, typically in acute-care hospitals [2].

Background Oral function deterioration attributed to ageing and medications is one of the main contributory factors of dysphagia. Therefore, oral health management is essential in older patients with schizophrenia. However, no previous studies have evaluated the oral function in patients with schizophrenia. Objective We surveyed patients with schizophrenia to identify factors associated with ageing-related variations in oral function.