Saunders Ralph, Friedman Bruce
Department of Dentistry, University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry, Rochester, NY 14642, USA.
Gerodontology. 2007 Jun;24(2):67-76. doi: 10.1111/j.1741-2358.2007.00160.x.
To present descriptive information on oral health and health care of community-dwelling elderly persons with disabilities who are living at home.
Most previous studies have focused on specific subpopulations, namely, persons who are essentially healthy and independent, are homebound, or are nursing home residents. Little information appears to be available on community-residing elderly persons with disabilities.
A total of 641 participants aged 65 years and over in a Medicare Demonstration who were cognitively intact, completed an oral health questionnaire within 1 year of Demonstration entry. Demonstration participants were required to be living in the community, need or receive help with 2+ activities of daily living (ADLs) or 3+ instrumental ADLs (IADLs), and have recently experienced significant health services utilisation.
Subject mean age was 79.1 years, 73.8% were female, and 4% were minority. They were dependent in a mean of 1.8 ADLs and 2.9 IADLs. 43.1% reported that they had no natural teeth, 77.4% had dentures, 58.8% frequently felt their mouth was dry, 5.2% had jaw pain now and 6.1% had at some time experienced burning sensations in their mouth or tongue. 40.4% reported that they were currently in need of dental treatment, although 56.2% indicated they now had a dentist, and 42.1% identified having a dental visit within the past 12 months. 19.7% indicated some dental insurance coverage.
This is one of the first studies to focus on community-dwelling elderly people with disabilities. Substantial oral health morbidity was reported.
提供关于居家生活的社区残疾老年人口腔健康及保健的描述性信息。
以往大多数研究聚焦于特定亚人群，即基本健康且独立的人、居家不出者或养老院居民。关于居住在社区的残疾老年人的信息似乎很少。
在一项医疗保险示范项目中，共有641名65岁及以上认知功能完好的参与者，他们在示范项目开始后的1年内完成了一份口腔健康问卷。示范项目参与者必须居住在社区，在两项及以上日常生活活动（ADL）或三项及以上工具性日常生活活动（IADL）方面需要或接受帮助，并且最近有大量医疗服务利用情况。
受试者平均年龄为79.1岁，73.8%为女性，4%为少数族裔。他们平均依赖1.8项ADL和2.9项IADL。43.1%报告无天然牙，77.4%有假牙，58.8%经常感觉口腔干燥，5.2%目前有颌部疼痛，6.1%曾在口腔或舌部有过灼烧感。40.4%报告目前需要牙科治疗，尽管56.2%表示他们现在有牙医，42.1%确认在过去12个月内看过牙医。19.7%表示有某种牙科保险覆盖。
这是首批聚焦于居住在社区的残疾老年人的研究之一。报告了大量口腔健康问题。
