Research Planning and Promotion Committee, Japan Prosthodontic Society, Tokyo, Japan.
Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry, and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama, Japan.
Geriatr Gerontol Int. 2022 Dec;22(12):1032-1039. doi: 10.1111/ggi.14508. Epub 2022 Nov 21.
To examine the relationship between the number of present and functional teeth at baseline and future incidence of loss of independence.
Participants were community-dwelling older individuals who participated in a comprehensive geriatric health examination conducted in Kusatsu town, Japan, between 2009 and 2015. The primary endpoint was the incidence of loss of independence among participants, defined as the first certification of long-term care insurance in Japan. The numbers of present and functional teeth at baseline were determined via an oral examination. Demographics, clinical variables (e.g., history of chronic diseases and psychosocial factors), blood nutritional markers, physical functions, and perceived masticatory function were assessed.
This study included 1121 individuals, and 205 individuals suffered from loss of independence during the follow-up period. Kaplan-Meier estimates of loss of independence for participants with smaller numbers of present and functional teeth were significantly greater than for those with larger numbers of teeth. Cox proportional hazard analyses indicated that a smaller number of present teeth was not a significant risk factor after adjusting for demographic characteristics. However, the number of functional teeth was a significant risk factor after the adjustment (hazard ratio: 1.975 [1.168-3.340]). Additionally, higher hazard ratios were observed in other adjusted models, but they were not statistically significant.
The number of functional teeth may be more closely related to the future incidence of loss of independence than the number of present teeth. This novel finding suggests that prosthodontic rehabilitation for tooth loss possibly prevents the future incidence of this life-event. Geriatr Gerontol Int 2022; 22: 1032-1039.
探讨基线时现患牙和功能牙的数量与未来丧失独立性的发生率之间的关系。
参与者为居住在社区的日本草津镇老年人，于 2009 年至 2015 年期间参加了全面的老年健康检查。主要终点是参与者丧失独立性的发生率，定义为日本长期护理保险的首次认证。基线时现患牙和功能牙的数量通过口腔检查确定。评估了人口统计学、临床变量（如慢性疾病史和心理社会因素）、血液营养标志物、身体功能和感知的咀嚼功能。
本研究纳入了 1121 名参与者，205 名参与者在随访期间丧失了独立性。Kaplan-Meier 估计表明，现患牙和功能牙数量较少的参与者丧失独立性的风险明显高于牙齿数量较多的参与者。Cox 比例风险分析表明，在调整人口统计学特征后，现患牙数量不是一个显著的危险因素。然而，功能牙数量是一个显著的危险因素（危险比：1.975 [1.168-3.340]）。此外，在其他调整模型中观察到更高的危险比，但没有统计学意义。
功能牙的数量可能与未来丧失独立性的发生率比现患牙的数量更为密切相关。这一新颖的发现表明，针对牙齿缺失的修复治疗可能有助于预防未来发生这种生活事件。老年医学与老年病学国际 2022；22：1032-1039。
