The association between number of teeth and physical function limitation among older adults in the USA

Abstract

Aim: To examine the association between the number of teeth and physical function limitation (PFL), as an indicator of frailty, among older adults in the USA.

Background: Physical function limitation is common among the elderly and potentially associated with oral health, particularly the number of extracted teeth.

Materials and methods: Data from the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System 2014 (BRFSS, 2014), a cross-sectional national interview survey of US population, were analyzed. The number of participating older adults aged 65 and over was 158 962. The association between PFL, outcome and number of extracted teeth, demographic data, socio-economic status, smoking, general health, comorbidity conditions and body mass index (BMI) was assessed using logistic regression analyses.

Results: The prevalence of PFL was 28%. In the fully adjusted model, the number of extracted teeth had a significant association with PFL: edentulous older adults had higher odds for PFL, (odds ratio [OR]:1.36; 95%CI: 1.22, 1.52). Similarly, those who lost 6 teeth or more but not all were likely to have PFL (OR 1.35: 95% CI: 1.23, 1.48).

Conclusions: There was a significant association between the number of extracted teeth and PFL among US older adults aged 65 and more, based on the data from BRFSS 2014. The findings indicate that losing teeth may be a potential risk for PFL.

Keywords: geriatric; physical functioning; teeth.