Older adults' dependence in activities of daily living: Implications for oral health.

OBJECTIVE

To assess the relationship between ADL and oral health status in older adults.

DESIGN AND SAMPLE

Quantitative, analytical, cross-sectional research with 280 people aged ≥60 in public primary health care centers in the city of Fortaleza, Northeastern Brazil.

MEASURES

Collection of sociodemographic data, oral discomfort data, and general health data and application of the Community Oral Health Indicator-COHI and the activities of daily living scale.

RESULTS

Significant differences in functional dependence were found between age groups (p < .001), incomes (p = .034), and levels of education (p = .003). Tooth loss (OR = 2.13; p = 0.025), having no teeth (OR = 2.97), difficulties in chewing and swallowing food (OR = 2.56; p = 0.003), problems with taste of food (OR = 2.06; p = .044), poor self-rated general health (OR = 3.7; p = .001), hearing problems (OR = 2.23; p = .009) and speech problems (OR = 3.15; p = .002) increased chances for functional dependence. Dependent individuals were less likely to use toothpaste, thereby increasing the potential for caries (p = .013). Age 80 or older (p < .001), ages 70-79 (p < .001), three or more visible dental cavities (p = .030) and difficulty chewing and swallowing food (p = .027) remained associated with dependence in ADL in the logistic regression model.

CONCLUSION

Functional dependence in activities of daily living has implications for the oral health status of older people.