Abstract
Good oral health is integral to “overall health, comfort and basic dignity of older members of society”. In 2020, older adults (>65 years) represented 68% of the 19.3 million new cancer cases, and 70% of the 10 million cancer deaths while 280 million older adults suffer from oral diseases such as dental decay or caries, periodontal inflammation or gum disease, and loss of one or more teeth. Pre-existing diseases and polypharmacy make them more vulnerable to acute and chronic oral adverse effects, due to life-prolonging cancer treatments e.g. oral mucositis, xerostomia, osteonecrosis, infections, dysgeusia (taste alterations), neurotoxicity, decay, and infections. A narrative review to comprehensively synthesize and summarize the literature from MEDLINE, CINAHL, PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science, resulted in the selection of 218 relevant articles. Results include literature highlighting the unique needs of older patients with cancer, oral complications due to cancer treatments, the role of integration of oral healthcare, barriers, and enablers for the integration of oral healthcare in cancer care from a healthcare and societal perspective. The literature identifies ageism with inequalities in cancer care as a prime limitation for efficient care for older adults with shared decision-making, along with factors such as interprofessional. education and collaborations, oral health literacy, and inclusion of oral healthcare in the global agenda. A ‘geriacentric’ value-based equitable healthcare system may enhance the effectiveness of cancer care by integrating oral healthcare in multidisciplinary teams to improve the quality of life and survivorship in the growing number of older patients with cancer.
Presenters
Shalya AnandStudent, European Health Economics and Management, Management Center, Innsbruck, Utrecht, Netherlands Djenana Jalovcic
Associate Professor, Global Health and Rehabilitation, Master in Healthy Ageing and Rehabilitation, Western Norway University of Applied Sciences, Norway
Details
Presentation Type
Paper Presentation in a Themed Session
Theme
KEYWORDS
INTEGRATING ORAL HEALTHCARE, ORAL COMPLICATIONS, GERIATRIC ONCOLOGY, POLICY, MEDICAL MANAGEMENT
