Assessing the incidence of tongue coating in patients treated in intensive care units

Abstract

Objective: assessing the incidence of tongue coating in patients treated in the intensive care unit (ICU) of a hospital in Federal District, Brazil. Material and Methods: descriptive and prospective study with convenience cohort approved by the Research Ethics Committee. A single examiner conducted clinical examinations focused on evaluating the incidence of tongue coating in ICU patients for 5 weeks, at times scheduled by the ICU management board. Data were recorded in a standardized datasheet. Results: we assessed 152 male and female patients (57% women and 42% men), at mean age 64 years. Patients were hospitalized in the ICU, mostly under normal conditions (p < 0.001); the longest period in the ICU was 48 hours (p < 0.001). Most patients (56) presented coating throughout their tongues (p <0.001). Associations between the length of hospital stay and the incidence of tongue coating were not statistically significant. Conclusion: the incidence of tongue coating remains high in patients treated in the investigated ICU. Thus, it is necessary developing educational and clinical strategies, as well as implementing specific and professional training protocols.