HRC 2012-2017

The hipóteses was that dental treatment can contribute to reducing mortality in ICU. The objectives was to evaluate dental treatment outcomes and safety in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) through a 6-year retrospective analysis of objective metrics related to mortality, hospitalization and number of dental consultations. Methods: Data collected included the frequency of dental consultations, incidence of ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP), patient demographics, length of ICU stay, and mortality. In the statistical analysis, logistic regression models were utilized to explore associations between dental care and patient outcomes, calculating odds ratios for the outcome of mortality, with adjustments for potential confounders. Results: More than three consultations were associated with a lower risk of mortality in both crude (OR: 3.65, p < 0.0001) and adjusted analyses (OR: 4.24, p < 0.0001), suggesting a protective effect. Patients who received more frequent dental care, which involved the treatment of potential infection sources and the removal of bacterial plaque, demonstrated improved survival outcomes. VAP did not significantly increase mortality risk in this cohort. Dental procedures were not conclusively linked to mortality reduction; however, they were not associated with any significant adverse effects, indicating that they are safe for ICU patients. Conclusions: The findings indicate that regular dental treatment in the ICU may be beneficial to patient survival and do not pose additional safety risks. While VAP did not independently predict mortality, comprehensive dental care was a protective factor. Clinical relevance: These results underscore the potential value of integrating dental treatment into ICU patient care teams and highlight the need for further prospective, multicenter studies to confirm these benefits and inform clinical practices.