Kaori Enoki1, Ken-Ich Matsuda2, Kazunori Ikebe3, Shunsuke Murai1, Minoru Yoshida4, Yoshinobu Maeda5, William Murray Thomson6. 1. Resident, Department of Removable Prosthodontics, Gerodontology, and Oral Rehabilitation, Osaka University Graduate School of Dentistry, Osaka, Japan. 2. Assistant Professor, Department of Removable Prosthodontics, Gerodontology, and Oral Rehabilitation, Osaka University Graduate School of Dentistry, Osaka, Japan. Electronic address: digiflex@dent.osaka-u.ac.jp. 3. Associate Professor, Department of Removable Prosthodontics, Gerodontology, and Oral Rehabilitation, Osaka University Graduate School of Dentistry, Osaka, Japan. 4. Visiting Academic Staff, Department of Removable Prosthodontics, Gerodontology, and Oral Rehabilitation, Osaka University Graduate School of Dentistry, Osaka, Japan. 5. Professor, Department of Removable Prosthodontics, Gerodontology, and Oral Rehabilitation, Osaka University Graduate School of Dentistry, Dunedin, New Zealand. 6. Professor, Sir John Walsh Research Institute, Department of Oral Sciences, School of Dentistry, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand.
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: Xerostomia and tooth loss are major oral health problems in the elderly. The aim of this longitudinal study was to characterize the influence of xerostomia on oral health-related quality of life (OHRQoL) among elderly Japanese people. STUDY DESIGN: A total of 99 community-dwelling, independently living individuals aged 60 years and older were interviewed and underwent dental examination at baseline and at a 5-year follow-up. The Oral Health Impact Profile-14 and the Xerostomia Inventory were used to assess OHRQoL and xerostomia severity, respectively. RESULTS: Participants whose xerostomia worsened over the 5-year period had a significantly poorer follow-up OHRQoL. Linear regression models showed that tooth loss and worsening xerostomia were significant predictors of poorer follow-up OHRQoL. CONCLUSIONS: Tooth loss and worsening xerostomia result in poorer OHRQoL among older Japanese people.
OBJECTIVE:Xerostomia and tooth loss are major oral health problems in the elderly. The aim of this longitudinal study was to characterize the influence of xerostomia on oral health-related quality of life (OHRQoL) among elderly Japanese people. STUDY DESIGN: A total of 99 community-dwelling, independently living individuals aged 60 years and older were interviewed and underwent dental examination at baseline and at a 5-year follow-up. The Oral Health Impact Profile-14 and the Xerostomia Inventory were used to assess OHRQoL and xerostomia severity, respectively. RESULTS:Participants whose xerostomia worsened over the 5-year period had a significantly poorer follow-up OHRQoL. Linear regression models showed that tooth loss and worsening xerostomia were significant predictors of poorer follow-up OHRQoL. CONCLUSIONS:Tooth loss and worsening xerostomia result in poorer OHRQoL among older Japanese people.