Eftychia Kotronia1, S Goya Wannamethee2, A Olia Papacosta2, Peter H Whincup3, Lucy T Lennon2, Marjolein Visser4, Robert J Weyant5, Tamara B Harris6, Sheena E Ramsay7. 1. Institute of Health and Society, Newcastle University, Newcastle Upon Tyne, United Kingdom. Electronic address: e.kotronia2@newcastle.ac.uk. 2. Department of Primary Care and Population Health, University College London, London, United Kingdom. 3. Population Health Research Institute, St George's University of London, London, United Kingdom. 4. Department of Health Sciences, Faculty of Earth and Life Sciences, Amsterdam Public Health Research Institute, Vrije Universiteit, Amsterdam, the Netherlands. 5. Department of Dental Public Health, School of Dental Medicine, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA. 6. Laboratory of Epidemiology and Population Sciences, Intramural Research Program, National Institute on Aging, Bethesda, MD. 7. Institute of Health and Society, Newcastle University, Newcastle Upon Tyne, United Kingdom; Department of Primary Care and Population Health, University College London, London, United Kingdom.
Abstract
OBJECTIVES: Studies examining the associations between oral health and disability have limited oral health measures. We investigated the association of a range of objectively and subjectively assessed oral health markers with disability and physical function in older age. DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS: Cross-sectional analyses were based on the British Regional Heart Study (BRHS) comprising men aged 71 to 92 years (n = 2147) from 24 British towns, and the Health, Aging, and Body Composition (HABC) Study comprising men and women aged 71 to 80 years (n = 3075) from the United States. Assessments included oral health (periodontal disease, tooth count, dry mouth, and self-rated oral health), disability, and physical function (grip strength, gait speed, and chair stand test). RESULTS: In the BRHS, dry mouth, tooth loss, and cumulative oral health problems (≥3 problems) were associated with mobility limitations and problems with activities of daily living and instrumental activities of daily living; these remained significant after adjustment for confounding variables (for ≥3 dry mouth symptoms, odds ratio (OR) 2.68, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.94-3.69; OR 1.76, 95% CI 1.15-2.69; OR 2.90, 95% CI 2.01, 4.18, respectively). Similar results were observed in the HABC Study. Dry mouth was associated with the slowest gait speed in the BRHS, and the weakest grip strength in the HABC Study (OR 1.75, 95% CI 1.22, 2.50; OR 2.43, 95% CI 1.47-4.01, respectively). CONCLUSIONS AND IMPLICATIONS: Markers of poor oral health, particularly dry mouth, poor self-rated oral health, and the presence of more than 1 oral health problem, were associated with disability and poor physical function in older populations. Prospective investigations of these associations and underlying pathways are needed.
OBJECTIVES: Studies examining the associations between oral health and disability have limited oral health measures. We investigated the association of a range of objectively and subjectively assessed oral health markers with disability and physical function in older age. DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS: Cross-sectional analyses were based on the British Regional Heart Study (BRHS) comprising men aged 71 to 92 years (n = 2147) from 24 British towns, and the Health, Aging, and Body Composition (HABC) Study comprising men and women aged 71 to 80 years (n = 3075) from the United States. Assessments included oral health (periodontal disease, tooth count, dry mouth, and self-rated oral health), disability, and physical function (grip strength, gait speed, and chair stand test). RESULTS: In the BRHS, dry mouth, tooth loss, and cumulative oral health problems (≥3 problems) were associated with mobility limitations and problems with activities of daily living and instrumental activities of daily living; these remained significant after adjustment for confounding variables (for ≥3 dry mouth symptoms, odds ratio (OR) 2.68, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.94-3.69; OR 1.76, 95% CI 1.15-2.69; OR 2.90, 95% CI 2.01, 4.18, respectively). Similar results were observed in the HABC Study. Dry mouth was associated with the slowest gait speed in the BRHS, and the weakest grip strength in the HABC Study (OR 1.75, 95% CI 1.22, 2.50; OR 2.43, 95% CI 1.47-4.01, respectively). CONCLUSIONS AND IMPLICATIONS: Markers of poor oral health, particularly dry mouth, poor self-rated oral health, and the presence of more than 1 oral health problem, were associated with disability and poor physical function in older populations. Prospective investigations of these associations and underlying pathways are needed.
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Authors: Eftychia Kotronia; S Goya Wannamethee; A Olia Papacosta; Peter H Whincup; Lucy T Lennon; Marjolein Visser; Yvonne L Kapila; Robert J Weyant; Sheena E Ramsay Journal: J Gerontol A Biol Sci Med Sci Date: 2021-01-18 Impact factor: 6.053