Health behaviours and quality of life in independently living South Australians aged 75 years or older

TY - JOUR

T1 - Health behaviours and quality of life in independently living South Australians aged 75 years or older

AU - Amarasena, N.

AU - Keuskamp, D.

AU - Balasubramanian, M.

AU - Brennan, D.

PY - 2018

Y1 - 2018

N2 - Background: This study evaluated the associations between oral and general health behaviours, self-reported health and quality of life of adults aged 75 years or older living independently in South Australia. Methods: A cross sectional study based on a self-report mailed questionnaire was conducted in 590 independently living adults aged 75 years or older. Self-ratings of oral health and general health were assessed using single-item global ratings. Quality of life was measured using the Oral Health Impact Profile and the EuroQol instrument for health utility. Results: The overall response rate was 78%. The current analyses were restricted to 354 dentate older adults. Increasing age and being female were negatively associated with EuroQol scores. Good self-rated oral and general health were more prevalent in participants with higher social status who also had lower oral health impact and higher EuroQol scores. Good self-rated oral and general health were less prevalent while oral health impact was greater in participants who ate few fruits, vegetables or dairy products. Conclusions: Self-rated health and quality of life were poor in older adults with inadequate fruit/vegetables/dairy intake and lower social status. These findings suggest that nutrition and socioeconomic factors may be important to the oral and general health of adults aged 75 years or older.

AB - Background: This study evaluated the associations between oral and general health behaviours, self-reported health and quality of life of adults aged 75 years or older living independently in South Australia. Methods: A cross sectional study based on a self-report mailed questionnaire was conducted in 590 independently living adults aged 75 years or older. Self-ratings of oral health and general health were assessed using single-item global ratings. Quality of life was measured using the Oral Health Impact Profile and the EuroQol instrument for health utility. Results: The overall response rate was 78%. The current analyses were restricted to 354 dentate older adults. Increasing age and being female were negatively associated with EuroQol scores. Good self-rated oral and general health were more prevalent in participants with higher social status who also had lower oral health impact and higher EuroQol scores. Good self-rated oral and general health were less prevalent while oral health impact was greater in participants who ate few fruits, vegetables or dairy products. Conclusions: Self-rated health and quality of life were poor in older adults with inadequate fruit/vegetables/dairy intake and lower social status. These findings suggest that nutrition and socioeconomic factors may be important to the oral and general health of adults aged 75 years or older.

KW - Health behaviours

KW - Independently living

KW - Older adults

KW - Quality of life

KW - Self-rated health

UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85044464183&partnerID=8YFLogxK

U2 - 10.1111/adj.12583

DO - 10.1111/adj.12583

M3 - Article

AN - SCOPUS:85044464183

SN - 0045-0421

JO - Australian Dental Journal

JF - Australian Dental Journal

ER -