title: Long-term physical inactivity and oral health in Finnish adults with intellectual disability.
abstract: Physical inactivity is prevalent among patients with intellectual disability. Because little is known about the oral effects of poor mobility, we reviewed the medical and dental charts of institutionalized dentate patients (n = 214; 40.2 years +/- 12.1) of the Special Welfare District of Southwestern Finland. The number of decayed, missing, and filled teeth (DMFT), the number of retained teeth, dental treatment visits, and the type of the first treatment visit were recorded. Physical activity was good in 55% and severely reduced or completely absent in 45% of the patients. The degree of intellectual disability was mild or moderate in 40% and severe or profound in 60% of the patients. The walking patients weighed more (64.3 (19.6) versus 44.4 (14.4) kg; P< 0.001), had fewer secondary diagnoses (1.4 (1.3) versus 2.2 (1.4); P< 0.001), fewer daily medications (4.0 (2.1) versus 4.8 (2.4); P< 0.02), higher DMFT scores (18.5 (8.2) versus 14.8 (9.2); P < 0.05), and more dental treatment visits (2.7 (2.4) versus 2.0 (1.3); P< 0.03) than patients with poor physical activity. Periodontal treatment given as the primary type of dental care was more common among subjects with poor mobility than among those with good motor activity (P < 0.002). Poor physical activity was related to better dental health, higher need for periodontal therapy, and fewer dental visits than in patients with good motor activity.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Dentistry and Department of Anesthesiology and Intensive Care, University of Turku, Finland. sarakar@utu.fi
authors.forename: Sára
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Karjalainen
authors.forename: Milla
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Vanhamäki
authors.forename: Dunja
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Kanto
authors.forename: Liisa
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Kössi
authors.forename: Liisi
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Sewón
authors.forename: Matti
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Salo
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D004245:DMF Index; D003730:Dental Care for Persons with Disabilities / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D003731:Dental Caries / Q000209:etiology*; D005260:Female; D005387:Finland; D006801:Humans; D018476:Hypokinesia / Q000150:complications*; D007326:Institutionalization; D008607:Intellectual Disability / Q000150:complications*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009909:Oral Health; D009910:Oral Hygiene / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D010510:Periodontal Diseases / Q000209:etiology*