Oral health problems and significant weight loss among community-dwelling older adults

Background. Studies of hospitalized and institutionalized older adults sugg est a relationship between poor oral health and subsequent weight loss. Giv en the association between weight loss and subsequent mortality and morbidi ty, we evaluated how oral health problems contributed to significant weight loss over a 1-year period among a representative sample of community-dwell ing older adults. Methods. The study population consisted of 563 adults aged 70 years and old er living at home in rural and urban areas in six New England stares. Basel ine data included information regarding health status, Functional status, p hysical activity, disease diagnoses, lifestyle behaviors, and cognitive and affective status. Dentists performed oral health assessments. One year lat er, participants were called and asked questions regarding their health and dietary practices and their current weight. Results. Over the 1-year period of follow-up, approximately one third of th e sample had lost 4% or more or their previous total body weight; 6% of men and 11% of women lost 10% or more of their previous body weight. Of the su bjects, 37% were edentulous; most of these individuals wore Full dentures. With gender, income, advanced age, and baseline weight controlled for, eden tulousness remained an independent risk; factor for significant weight loss (odds ratio 1.63 for 4% weight loss and 2.03 for 10% weight loss). Individ uals with increasing numbers of posterior teeth and functional units were a t slightly lower risk for weight loss; however, these associations did not reach statistical significance. Conclusions. Dentate status is an important risk factor for clinically sign ificant weight loss among community-dwelling older adults.