Factors affecting masticatory function of community-dwelling older people: Investigation of the differences in the relevant factors for subjective and objective assessment

Abstract

Objective: This study aimed to examine relevant factors for subjective and objective assessment of masticatory functions and elucidate any differences between the two methods.

Background: Previous studies have reported that the results of subjective and objective assessment of masticatory function in older people do not necessarily agree.

Materials and methods: This study included 487 community-dwelling Japanese older people (205 male and 282 female; mean age 74.1±6.3 years) who participated in a comprehensive geriatric health examination. Basic information (gender and age), higher level of competence in daily living, depression, subjective masticatory function (SMF) and objective masticatory function (OMF) assessments, cognitive function, skeletal muscle mass, handgrip strength, gait speed and oral status (number of remaining and functional teeth, mouth dryness and occlusal force) were recorded.

Results: Multiple logistic regression analysis showed that depression (odds ratio [OR]: 1.181, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.094-1.275), mouth dryness (OR: 2.037, CI: 1.212-3.423) and occlusal force (OR: 0.997, CI: 0.996-0.999) were significantly associated with SMF, whereas higher level of competence in daily living (OR: 0.730 CI: 0.586-0.910), skeletal muscle mass (OR: 0.521 CI: 0.283-0.960), number of functional teeth (OR: 0.862 CI: 0.775-0.959), number of remaining teeth (OR: 0.868 CI: 0.810-0.930) and occlusal force (OR: 0.994, CI: 0.991-0.998) were associated with OMF.

Conclusion: Subjective masticatory functionSMF and OMF were associated with different factors, suggesting that both mental and physical factors should be taken into consideration when treating decreased masticatory function.

Keywords: masticatory function; objective masticatory assessment; sarcopenia; skeletal muscle mass; subjective masticatory assessment.