Relationship between general health status and the change in chewing ability: a longitudinal study of the frail elderly in Japan over a 3-year period.
OBJECTIVE
The aim of the present study was to identify the onset predictors of a change in chewing ability over a 3-year period in the frail elderly.


METHODS
The subjects were frail elderly people living in southern Japan. Data were collected at baseline (n = 92) and 3 years later (n = 60). The dependent variable was a change in self-rated chewing ability. The independent variables were age, gender, number of present teeth, dentition, maximum bite force (evaluated using a pressure-sensitive foil), basic activities of daily living, self-rated general health status, higher level of competence (evaluated using Tokyo Metropolitan Institute of Gerontology index), cognitive status (evaluated by revised Hasegawa Dementia Rating scale), and quality of life (evaluated using Philadelphia Geriatric Center morale scale) at baseline. To identify the most reliable predictors, bivariate analysis and multiple logistic regression analysis were performed, with the change of chewing ability as the dependent variable.


RESULTS
Bivariate analysis showed the change in chewing ability was significantly associated with general health status (p < 0.01), number of present teeth (p < 0.05) and maximum bite force (p < 0.01). Backward logistic regression analysis revealed that the most reliable predictor of a change in chewing ability at 3 years was general health status (odds ratio = 6.35, 95% CI = 1.69-23.88).


CONCLUSIONS
The present findings suggest that general health status at baseline produces a change in chewing ability.
Miura
Hiroko
H
Department of Speech Therapy, Faculty of Health and Welfare, Kyushu University of Health and Welfare, Miyazaki, Japan. hmiura@phoenix.ac.jp
Kariyasu
Makoto
M
Yamasaki
Kiyoko
K
Arai
Yumiko
Y
Sumi
Yasunori
Y
D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001732:Bite Force; D003071:Cognition; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D005544:Forecasting; D016330:Frail Elderly; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D007564:Japan; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D008409:Mastication / Q000502:physiology*; D016743:Mental Competency; D011788:Quality of Life; D012649:Self Concept; D012737:Sex Factors