Functional ability and oral health among older people: A longitudinal study from age 75 to 80

OBJECTIVE: To examine whether functional ability at age 75 and age 80 is as sociated with oral health and use of dental services cross-sectionally and whether changes in functional ability from age 75 to age 80 are associated with oral health and regular use of dental services at age 80. DESIGN: The study included a random sample of 75-year-olds at baseline and a follow-up study 5 years later. The data are treated as two cross-sectiona l studies at age 7S and 80, respectively, and as a longitudinal study from age 75 to 80. SETTING: The western part of Copenhagen County. PARTICIPANTS: The two cross-sectional studies of 75-and 80-year-old people included 411 and 321 persons, respectively. The longitudinal study from age 75 to 80 included the 326 persons who participated in both surveys. MEASUREMENTS: Oral health status was measured roughly by number of teeth an d chewing ability. Use of dental services was measured by frequency of visi ts to a dentist or denturist. Functional ability was measured by two scales on mobility in relation to tiredness and need of help. Changes in mobility from age 75 to 80 is described as (1) improved or sustained good, (2) decr eased, and (3) sustained poor. Gender, chronic diseases, self-rated health, socio-demographic factors, living alone, and social relations were include d as possible confounders. RESULTS: The odds ratio of having no or few teet h was 1.7 (1.1-2.6) in 75-year-old individuals who felt tired in mobility, 1.7 (1.0-2.9) in 80-year-old persons who needed help with mobility, and 2.7 (0.94-7.5) in persons with sustained need of help with mobility from age 7 5 to 80. The odds ratio of chewing difficulties was 1.7 (1.1-2.8) in 80-yea r-old people in need of help, and 1.8 (1.1-3.0) in persons age 75 to 80 nee ding sustained help. Dentate 80-year-old persons who felt tired in mobility had an odds ratio of 2.0 (0.94-4.2) of not using dental services. CONCLUSIONS: The results indicate that oral impairment (e.g., having no or few teeth), oral functional limitations (e.g., chewing problems), and gener al functional limitations (e.g., mobility problems) are interrelated and th at prevention of disabilities should be aimed at both functional limitation s and oral health problems if the intention is to promote a good life in ol d age. In addition, the results point to the importance of taking problems in mobility seriously in delivering preventive services to old people becau se people who are tired or dependent on help seem to be at a higher risk of not using dental services regularly.