TY - JOUR
T1 - The association between number of teeth and physical function limitation among older adults in USA
AU - Chalittikul, Warut
AU - Kassim, Saba
AU - Sabbah, Wael
PY - 2020/7/5
Y1 - 2020/7/5
N2 - Aim: To examine the association between number of teeth and physical function limitation (PFL), as an indicator of frailty, amongst older adults in the US. Background: Physical function limitation is common among the elderly and potentially associated with oral health, particularly the number of extracted teeth. Materials and Methods: Data from the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System 2014 (BRFSS, 2014), a cross-sectional national interview survey of US population, was analyzed. The number of participating older adults aged 65 and over was 158,962. The association between PFL, outcome, and number of extracted teeth, demographic data, socioeconomic status, smoking, general health, comorbidity conditions, and body mass index (BMI) was assessed using logistic regression analyses. Results: The prevalence of PFL was 28%. In the fully adjusted model the number of extracted teeth had a significant association with PFL: edentulous older adults had higher odds for PFL, (Odds Ratio [OR]:1.36; 95%CI: 1.22, 1.52). Similarly, those who lost 6 teeth or more but not all were likely to have PFL (OR 1.35: 95%CI: 1.23, 1.48). Conclusions: There was a significant association between the number of extracted teeth and PFL amongst US older adults aged 65 and more, based on the data from BRFSS 2014. The findings indicate that losing teeth may be a potential risk for PFL.
AB - Aim: To examine the association between number of teeth and physical function limitation (PFL), as an indicator of frailty, amongst older adults in the US. Background: Physical function limitation is common among the elderly and potentially associated with oral health, particularly the number of extracted teeth. Materials and Methods: Data from the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System 2014 (BRFSS, 2014), a cross-sectional national interview survey of US population, was analyzed. The number of participating older adults aged 65 and over was 158,962. The association between PFL, outcome, and number of extracted teeth, demographic data, socioeconomic status, smoking, general health, comorbidity conditions, and body mass index (BMI) was assessed using logistic regression analyses. Results: The prevalence of PFL was 28%. In the fully adjusted model the number of extracted teeth had a significant association with PFL: edentulous older adults had higher odds for PFL, (Odds Ratio [OR]:1.36; 95%CI: 1.22, 1.52). Similarly, those who lost 6 teeth or more but not all were likely to have PFL (OR 1.35: 95%CI: 1.23, 1.48). Conclusions: There was a significant association between the number of extracted teeth and PFL amongst US older adults aged 65 and more, based on the data from BRFSS 2014. The findings indicate that losing teeth may be a potential risk for PFL.
KW - Physical functioning
KW - Geriatric
KW - Teeth
M3 - Article
SN - 0734-0664
JO - GERODONTOLOGY
JF - GERODONTOLOGY
ER -