Elderly with remaining teeth report less frailty and better quality of life than edentulous elderly: a cross-sectional study.

Abstract

OBJECTIVE:

To assess oral status and self-reported oral health in community-living elderly and to determine differences between relevant subgroups of oral status (remaining teeth, edentulous, implant-retained overdentures) and case complexity (robust, frail, complex care needs).

SUBJECTS AND METHODS:

In this cross-sectional descriptive study, 1325 Dutch community-living elderly (≥75 years of age) were asked to complete validated questionnaires on frailty, activities of daily living (ADL), complexity of care needs, and QoL. Data on oral status, self-reported oral health, dental care, general health, and medication use were assessed. Differences between relevant subgroups were determined.

RESULTS:

Data of 1026 (77%) elderly (median 80 years, IQR 77-84) were analyzed: 39% had remaining teeth, 51% were edentulous, and 10% had implant-supported overdentures. Elderly with complex care needs (n = 225, 22%) and frail elderly (n = 217, 21%) were more often edentulous and reported more oral problems than robust elderly (n = 584, 57%). Elderly persons with remaining teeth were less frail, had better QoL and ADL, and used fewer medicines than edentulous elderly. Elderly with implant-supported overdentures performed better on frailty and QoL than edentulous elderly with conventional dentures.

CONCLUSION:

Community-living elderly commonly suffer from oral health problems, in particular elderly with complex care needs. QoL, ADL, and general health are higher among community-living elderly with remaining teeth and implant-supported overdentures than in edentulous elderly.

• Authors: A R Hoeksema, Slw Spoorenberg, L L Peters, Hja Meijer, G M Raghoebar, A Vissink, K Wynia, A Visser
• Journal: Oral diseases (Oral Dis) Vol. 23 Issue 4 Pg. 526-536 (May 2017) ISSN: 1601-0825 [Electronic] Denmark
• PMID: 28120363 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Observational Study)
• Copyright: © 2017 John Wiley & Sons A/S. Published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.

Topics

• Aged
• Aged, 80 and over
• Cross-Sectional Studies
• Female
• Frail Elderly (statistics & numerical data)
• Frailty (epidemiology, etiology)
• Geriatric Assessment
• Health Status
• Health Status Indicators
• Humans
• Independent Living
• Male
• Mouth, Edentulous (complications, epidemiology)
• Netherlands (epidemiology)
• Oral Health (statistics & numerical data)
• Quality of Life
• Risk Factors
• Self Report