Evaluation of the oral health condition of patients admitted to cardiology intensive care unit

Aim: Assessing the oral health condition of patients hospitalized in a cardiology intensive care unit. Methods: Convenience sample encompassing 104 patients, from both sexes, in the age group 34 to 93 years. General data and information about health profile were collected from medical reports and through interviews. Data about white tongue, prosthesis and gingival inflammation processes were recorded in individual files. The t test was applied to find whether there were significant differences between percentages (p < 0.5). The Bonferroni theorem was used to adjust the critical alpha level when the analysis of a certain parameter involved multiple tests of the same kind. Results: Oral hygiene activities are performed in the ICU (p = 0.0000) usually two times a day (p < 0.025). Most patients had white coat on the entire tongue: 38 patients (36.54%) (p < 0.008). There was no gingival inflammation process in 35 patients (33.65%) (p ˂ 0.005) and 80.77% of the sample (p = 0,0000) were toothed. Awaken patients (not sedated) had white tongue, regardless of oral hygiene frequency. Conclusion: Oral hygiene procedures in place in the ICU are not effective to removetongue coating and most patients stay in it for 48 hours or more (critical period).