Park Kyongok, Hong Gwi-Ryung Son
Nursing Department, Far East University, Eumseong, Korea.
College of Nursing, Hanyang University, Seoul, Korea.
Geriatr Gerontol Int. 2017 Jan;17(1):78-84. doi: 10.1111/ggi.12677. Epub 2015 Dec 21.
Decreased chewing ability in older adults can lead to poor nutritional and physical conditions, and eventually death. The present study examined the relationships between chewing ability and related characteristics (e.g. health promotion habits, health status and functional status), and identified predictors of chewing ability in community-residing older adults.
Among the total of 11 542 participants in the 2011 National Survey on Older Adults in Korea, data from 10 543 participants were used for analysis. Chewing ability was evaluated using a self-report of chewing ability. Exercise ability was assessed by objective exercise ability and perceived exercise ability in both the upper and lower extremities. Depression and cognitive functions were measured using the Geriatric Depression Scale-Short Form and the Mini-Mental State Examination, respectively.
A total of 56.9% of participants had poor chewing abilities. After adjusting for age and sex, logistic regression analysis showed that depression (OR 1.76, 95% CI 1.60-1.92), cognitive impairment (OR 1.28, 95% CI 1.17-1.40), objective exercise ability (OR 1.24, 95% CI 1.11-1.41), regular exercise habits (OR 1.23, 95% CI 1.13-1.34), medical check-up history (OR 1.17, 95% CI 1.05-1.32), number of chronic diseases (OR 1.12, 95% CI 1.09-1.15) and perceived exercise ability in the lower extremities (OR 1.08, 95% CI 1.05-1.10) were significant predictors of chewing ability.
Chewing ability in older adults should be improved in consideration of mental and general health condition. Geriatr Gerontol Int 2017; 17: 78-84.
老年人咀嚼能力下降会导致营养和身体状况不佳，最终导致死亡。本研究探讨了咀嚼能力与相关特征（如健康促进习惯、健康状况和功能状态）之间的关系，并确定了社区居住老年人咀嚼能力的预测因素。
在2011年韩国全国老年人调查的11542名参与者中，使用了10543名参与者的数据进行分析。咀嚼能力通过咀嚼能力的自我报告进行评估。运动能力通过上下肢的客观运动能力和感知运动能力进行评估。抑郁和认知功能分别使用老年抑郁量表简表和简易精神状态检查表进行测量。
共有56.9%的参与者咀嚼能力较差。在调整年龄和性别后，逻辑回归分析显示，抑郁（比值比1.76，95%置信区间1.60-1.92）、认知障碍（比值比1.28，95%置信区间1.17-1.40）、客观运动能力（比值比1.24，95%置信区间1.11-1.41）、规律运动习惯（比值比1.23，95%置信区间1.13-1.34）、体检史（比值比1.17，95%置信区间1.05-1.32）、慢性病数量（比值比1.12，95%置信区间1.09-1.15）和下肢感知运动能力（比值比1.08，95%置信区间）是咀嚼能力的显著预测因素。
应考虑老年人的心理和总体健康状况来改善其咀嚼能力。《老年医学与老年病学国际杂志》2017年；17:78-84。
