慢性阻塞性肺疾病口腔照護不佳與健康的關係及其護理措施

The Relationship between poor Oral Care and Health Status in Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease Patients and its Nursing Care

本文深入探討口腔健康對慢性阻塞性肺疾病的影響，強調口腔微生物生態系統與整體身體健康的密切關聯，口腔環境中的微生物失調可能對全身健康產生深遠影響，特別是口腔健康與慢性阻塞性肺疾病之間的聯繫。慢性阻塞性肺疾病（Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease, COPD）是全球第三大死因，每年奪走約300萬人生命。口腔及唾液腺疾病在20 9年就醫人數高達 ,829,000人，相應的醫療費用支出占整體醫療的6.04%，凸顯了口腔健康在台灣的重要性。牙周病在人口中的盛行率超過90%，並與慢性阻塞性肺疾病惡化存在密切相關，而口腔微生物失調可能成為慢性阻塞性肺疾病病人口腔和呼吸道微生物的潛在來源，進而引發慢性發炎反應。統整慢性阻塞性肺疾病病人口腔健康狀況不佳的原因，包括疾病因素導致身體機能下降，降低病人的自我口腔清潔照護能力，常用藥物治療造成的唾液分泌減少，以及口腔PH值下降，造成適合微生物存在的口腔環境。本文強調COPD病人口腔健康的重要性，提供有效的衛教以提升病人口腔照護及知識，以預防和減緩口腔微生態系統的失衡，進而改善口腔健康、提升整體健康及生活品質。

This article deeply explores the impact of oral health on chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, emphasizing the close connection between the oral microecosystem and overall physical health. Microbial imbalance in the oral environment may have a profound impact on systemic health, especially the relationship between oral health and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. According to statistics, Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) is the third leading cause of death worldwide, claiming approximately 3 million lives every year. The number of people seeking medical treatment for oral and salivary gland diseases in 2019 reached 11,829,000, and the corresponding medical expenses accounted for 6.04% of the total medical expenses, highlighting the importance of oral health in Taiwan. The prevalence of periodontal disease among the population exceeds 90%, and is closely related to the exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. It is mentioned in the article that oral microbial imbalance may become a potential source of oral and respiratory microorganisms in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, thereby triggering a chronic inflammatory response. The reasons for poor oral health in COPD patients are multifaceted, including factors such as a decline in physical function caused by the disease, difficulty in performing oral hygiene, thereby reduced the patient's ability to practice oral care, and decreased saliva secretion caused by commonly used medicine treatments, and the pH value of the mouth decreases, creating an oral environment suitable for the presence of cariogenic microorganisms.
The article advocates reinforcing the importance of oral health, enhancing oral care concepts, preventing and mitigating imbalances in the oral microbiome, and improving the oral health and quality of life for COPD patients. The interconnection between oral health and overall health, along with its association with potential systemic diseases, highlights the crucial role of healthcare professionals in oral health services, health promotion, and preventive information dissemination. Effective education is essential to improve patients' oral health conditions and quality of life.