Publication date: May–June 2020
Source: Archives of Gerontology and Geriatrics, Volume 88
Author(s): Kimiko Tomioka, Norio Kurumatani, Keigo Saeki
Abstract
Background
Previous studies have shown that regular dental visits can affect the relationship of tooth loss with mortality and functional disability. However, the independent association between regular dental visits and incident functional disability is unclear.
Methods
Our study participants were community-dwelling individuals aged ≥65 years, without disability at baseline. The outcome was the level of incident functional disability, as defined in a new certification of the public long-term care insurance. We defined no disability as no certification at follow-up, mild disability as support levels 1–2 and care level 1 (i.e., independent in basic ADL, but requiring some help in daily activities), and severe disability as care levels 2–5 (i.e., dependent in basic ADL). The exposure variable, based on the questionnaire, was regular dental visits at baseline. Covariates included gender, age, socio-economic status, health status, lifestyle habits, physical and mental functioning, and oral health variables. Using multinomial logistic regression, we calculated adjusted odds ratio (aOR) and 95 % confidence interval (CI) for mild disability and severe disability, with no disability as a reference category.
Results
Among 8,877 participants, the 33-month cumulative incidence of mild and severe disability was 6.0 % and 1.8 %, respectively. After controlling for all covariates, regular dental visits at baseline were significantly associated with a lower risk of incident severe disability (aOR 0.65; 95 % CI, 0.46–0.91) but not the incidence of mild disability (aOR 0.96; 95 % CI, 0.79–1.17).
Conclusions
Encouraging dental visits may contribute to prevention of severe functional disability and extension of healthy life expectancy among community-dwelling older adults.