Functional Oral Intake, Eating-Related Quality of Life and Oral Health-Related Quality of Life in Older Adults with Stroke: A Cross-Sectional Study.

Background/Objectives: Oral health is important for safe oral feeding after stroke. However, the relationships among oral health-related quality of life, functional oral intake, and eating-related quality of life remain unclear. This study examined these associations in older adults with stroke. Methods: This cross-sectional observational study included 100 adults aged ≥65 years with stroke receiving oral feeding (FOIS ≥ 4). Oral health-related quality of life was assessed using the Geriatric Oral Health Assessment Index (GOHAI) and Oral Health Impact Profile-14 (OHIP-14), and eating-related quality of life using selected Swallowing Quality of Life Questionnaire (SWAL-QOL) domains. Correlation, multiple linear regression, and exploratory parallel indirect-effect analyses were performed. Results: GOHAI was most strongly correlated with Desire to Eat (r = 0.632, p < 0.001), whereas OHIP-14 showed the strongest negative correlation with Desire to Eat (r = -0.603, p < 0.001). FOIS was positively associated with GOHAI (ρ = 0.487, p < 0.001) and negatively associated with OHIP-14 (ρ = -0.571, p < 0.001). Desire to Eat, Food Selection, and Eating Time were independently associated with GOHAI. The exploratory parallel analysis showed a statistically supported total indirect association between FOIS and GOHAI through these eating-related domains collectively (indirect effect = 2.7496, 95% bootstrap CI 0.6070 to 4.9102), while no specific indirect effect was individually supported. Conclusions: Functional oral intake, eating-related experiences, and oral health-related quality of life were significantly interrelated. The exploratory findings suggest a collective statistical indirect association through eating-related domains without establishing temporal or causal mediation.