Oral health and reduction in respiratory capacity in a cohort of community-dwelling elderly people: a population-based 5-year follow-up study.
OBJECTIVE
Several anaerobic bacteria originating in periodontal pockets have been isolated from infected lungs and pharyngeal microflora. Increased bacterial load in lungs is known to be a risk factor for decline in forced expiratory volume during the first second. The aim was to evaluate both cross-sectionally and longitudinally the association between oral health status and forced expiratory volume during the first second (FEV1) in older residents of the city of Jyväskylä, Finland.


METHODS
Cross-sectional and prospective cohort study over a 5-year follow-up.


METHODS
Research laboratory of the University of Jyväskylä.


METHODS
In 1990 dental status and FEV1 were examined in 203 80-year-old people, of whom 88 survivors were retested 5 years later.


METHODS
Primary: dental status and FEV1. Secondary: existence of pulmonary diseases, height, handgrip strength, smoking, and length of education.


RESULTS
Participants were regrouped into three categories according to their baseline oral health status. At baseline, men with complete prostheses had the lowest FEV1. Five years later the greatest reduction in FEV1 was seen in subjects with poor periodontal status or complete prostheses (-9.4%) while those with healthy periodontal status showed no reduction in FEV1 values (+1.0%, p = 0.006).


CONCLUSIONS
Periodontal infections and complete prostheses may be reservoirs for pathogens which may be harmful and partly explain the observed reduction in FEV1 during ageing.
Hämäläinen
Piia
P
Institute of Dentistry, University of Helsinki, and Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Diseases, Helsinki University Central Hospital, Helsinki, Finland. piia.hamalainen@helsinki.fi
Suominen
Harri
H
Keskinen
Marja
M
Meurman
Jukka H
JH
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D004812:Epidemiologic Methods; D005260:Female; D005541:Forced Expiratory Volume; D015577:Geriatric Assessment / Q000379:methods; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009066:Mouth, Edentulous / Q000150:complications* / Q000503:physiopathology; D009909:Oral Health; D010518:Periodontitis / Q000150:complications / Q000503:physiopathology; D012737:Sex Factors