Factors affecting the oral health of patients on maintenance hemodialysis and recommendations for standardized nursing care: a multicenter study

Objective: To determine the oral health status of patients on maintenance hemodialysis and to identify the factors influencing their oral health. Method and materials: This observational study included 1,186 patients with chronic kidney disease who received maintenance hemodialysis across 33 hospitals in China. The patients were recruited for a questionnaire survey betweenApril and August 2023 at Beijing Chaoyang Hospital using stratified sampling. Data collection tools included the General Information Questionnaire for Maintenance Hemodialysis Patients, the Oral Health Assessment Tool, the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index, and the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale. Spearman rank correlation coefficients were used to assess the relationships between the oral health of patients on maintenance hemodialysis and continuous variables such as sleep quality and emotional status. Multiple linear regression analysis was employed to explore the relationship between oral health and various var ables. Results: The oral health scores of the patients ranged from 8 to 22, with a mean score of 12.54 +/- 2.63. The final modelof the multiple linear regression analysis indicated a goodness of fit of 22.19%. Independent factors affecting the oral health of patients included smoking, the proportion of medical expenses, water consumption, sleep quality, and anxiety scores (all P < .05). High levels of smoking, substantial medical expenses, poor sleep quality, and elevated anxiety scores were risk factorsfor poor oral health (all P < .05). Adequate daily water intakeserved as a protective factor for oral health (P < .05). Conclu-sion: This study proposes targeted interventions to enhance the management and improvement of oral health in patients on hemodialysis, aiming to provide highly personalized and effective oral health care. These interventions are expected to improve oral health outcomes in future clinical practice