Oral Health, Disability and Physical Function: Results From Studies of Older People in the United Kingdom and United States of America

Eftychia Kotronia*, S. Goya Wannamethee, A. Olia Papacosta, Peter H. Whincup, Lucy T. Lennon, Marjolein Visser, Robert J. Weyant, Tamara B. Harris, Sheena E. Ramsay

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to JournalArticleAcademicpeer-review

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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.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)1654.e1-1654.e9
Number of pages9
JournalJournal of the American Medical Directors Association
Volume20
Issue number12
Early online date10 Aug 2019
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Dec 2019

Funding

This research was supported by the British Heart Foundation Program Grant (RG/08/013/25942), The Dunhill Medical Trust (Grant No. R396/1114 and R592/0717), and by the National Institute on Aging (Contracts N01-AG-6-2101; N01-AG-6-2103; N01-AG-6-2106; NIA grant R01-AG028050; NINR grant R01-NR012459). This research was supported in part by the Intramural Research Program at the National Institute on Aging.

FundersFunder number
British Heart Foundation ProgramRG/08/013/25942
National Institute on AgingN01-AG-6-2106, N01-AG-6-2101, R01-AG028050, N01-AG-6-2103
National Institute of Nursing ResearchR01-NR012459
Dunhill Medical TrustR396/1114, R592/0717

    Keywords

    • disability
    • older
    • Oral health
    • physical function

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