Lim Nahyun, Lee Daehyun, Shin Seung-Yun, Won Chang Won, Kim Miji
Department of Precision Medicine, Graduate School, Kyung Hee University, Seoul, 02447, Republic of Korea.
KHU-KIST Department of Converging Science and Technology, Graduate School, Kyung Hee University, Seoul, 02447, Republic of Korea.
BMC Geriatr. 2024 Dec 20;24(1):1024. doi: 10.1186/s12877-024-05585-y.
Functional teeth are important for maintaining appropriate masticatory function and nutritional intake, affecting physical function in older adults. This study aimed to evaluate the association between number of functional teeth and physical function in community-dwelling older Korean adults.
This cross-sectional study was conducted among a total of 2,527 participants (mean age, 76.5 ± 3.9; 53.4% women) who were enrolled in the Korean Frailty and Aging Cohort Study (2016-2017). Participants were categorized based on the number of functional teeth into two groups: < 20 and ≥ 20 functional teeth. Functional teeth were defined as the remaining natural teeth with visible crowns, with or without restorations, prosthetic pontics, or dental implants on panoramic radiography. Physical function was assessed using handgrip strength, gait speed, five-times sit-to-stand test (5TSTS) duration, and the Short Physical Performance Battery (SPPB) score. Multivariate linear and logistic regression models were used to evaluate the association between number of functional teeth and physical function.
Of all the participants, 869 (34.3%) had < 20 functional teeth. After full adjustment for sociodemographic factors, lifestyle, health condition, and oral health, an increase in one functional tooth was associated with a corresponding increase in gait speed (men: B = 0.002, p = 0.032; women: B = 0.002, p = 0.013) and SPPB (men: B = 0.019, p < 0.001; women: B = 0.018, p < 0.001) in both men and women. The time taken for the 5TSTS was shorter for an increase in one more functional tooth (men, B=-0.033, p = 0.006; women, B=-0.036, p = 0.021) in both men and women. An increase in one functional tooth was associated with a corresponding increase in handgrip strength only in men (men, B = 0.049, p = 0.009; women, B=-0.003, p = 0.814). The associations between < 20 functional teeth and low handgrip strength [odds ratio (OR) = 1.46, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.03-2.06], long 5TSTS duration (OR = 1.47, 95% CI: 1.07-2.02), and low SPPB scores (OR = 1.64, 95% CI: 1.07-2.53) were significant in fully adjusted model compared with ≥ 20 functional teeth only in men.
Fewer functional teeth were associated with low physical function in older adults. Our results emphasize the importance of maintaining adequate functional teeth to preserve physical function in community-dwelling older adults.
功能性牙齿对于维持适当的咀嚼功能和营养摄入很重要，会影响老年人的身体机能。本研究旨在评估韩国社区居住的老年人中功能性牙齿数量与身体机能之间的关联。
本横断面研究在韩国衰弱与老龄化队列研究（2016 - 2017年）纳入的总共2527名参与者（平均年龄76.5±3.9岁；53.4%为女性）中进行。参与者根据功能性牙齿数量分为两组：<20颗功能性牙齿和≥20颗功能性牙齿。功能性牙齿定义为在全景X线片上有可见牙冠的剩余天然牙，无论有无修复体、假牙桥或牙种植体。使用握力、步速、五次坐立试验（5TSTS）持续时间和简短体能状况量表（SPPB）评分评估身体机能。采用多变量线性和逻辑回归模型评估功能性牙齿数量与身体机能之间的关联。
在所有参与者中，869人（34.3%）有<20颗功能性牙齿。在对社会人口学因素、生活方式、健康状况和口腔健康进行全面调整后，男性和女性每增加一颗功能性牙齿，步速（男性：B = 0.002，p = 0.032；女性：B = 0.002，p = 0.013）和SPPB（男性：B = 0.019，p < 0.001；女性：B = 0.018，p < 0.001）相应增加。男性和女性每增加一颗功能性牙齿，5TSTS所需时间缩短（男性，B = -0.033，p = 0.006；女性，B = -0.036，p = 0.021）。仅在男性中，每增加一颗功能性牙齿，握力相应增加（男性，B = 0.049，p = 0.009；女性，B = -0.003，p = 0.814）。在完全调整模型中，与≥20颗功能性牙齿相比，男性中<20颗功能性牙齿与低握力[比值比（OR）= 1.46，95%置信区间（CI）：1.03 - 2.06]、长5TSTS持续时间（OR = 1.47，95% CI：1.07 - 2.02）和低SPPB评分（OR = 1.64，95% CI：1.07 - 2.53）之间的关联显著。
老年人中功能性牙齿较少与身体机能低下有关。我们的结果强调了在社区居住的老年人中保持足够数量的功能性牙齿以维持身体机能的重要性。
