Factors associated with oral health-related quality of life in institutionalized elderly.
OBJECTIVE
The aim of this study was to investigate factors associated with the oral health-related quality of life (OHRQoL) of institutionalized elderly in Germany.


METHODS
One-hundred-and-fifty-eight subjects from old people's homes were selected (mean 82.8 years). OHRQoL was measured using the Oral Health Impact Profile (OHIP). Denture characteristics (kind and age of denture, retention of removable denture, number of teeth in static occlusion) and general issues (age, gender, education level, and general pain status) were assessed. All factors were subjected to bivariate testing for their effects on the OHIP summary score (OHIP-SC) and to multivariate testing in subjects with removable dentures (n = 128); a linear regression model with backward elimination was used, with OHIP-SC as the dependent variable.


RESULTS
In the context of other studies, a median OHIP-SC of 29 indicated highly impaired OHRQoL. According to the bivariate analysis, retention, age of denture, number of teeth in static occlusion, general pain status, and education all exhibited significant influence on OHIP-SC. In the final linear regression model, general pain status, education level, and retention of denture remained at a statistically significant level. The model explained 34% (R2 = 0.34) of the variance of the OHIP-SC. The kind of denture had no significant impact on OHIP-SC.


CONCLUSIONS
In contrast to other groups, the kind of denture exhibited little impact on OHIP-SC for this highly specific collective. However, there were functional aspects of dentures which seemed to be important. Non-dental factors had a striking effect on OHRQoL.
Hassel
Alexander J
AJ
Poliklinik für Zahnärztliche Prothetik, Heidelberg, Germany. alexander.hassel@med.uni-heidelberg.de
Koke
Ulrich
U
Schmitter
Marc
M
Rammelsberg
Peter
P
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D016321:Dental Care for Aged; D003753:Dental Health Surveys; D003778:Dentures / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005157:Facial Pain / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D005858:Germany; D006707:Homes for the Aged; D006801:Humans; D016014:Linear Models; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009909:Oral Health; D011788:Quality of Life; D018434:Sickness Impact Profile; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D016388:Tooth Loss / Q000523:psychology*