Oral health-related quality of life and nutritional status.
OBJECTIVE
This study examines whether oral health-related quality of life (OHRQoL) is associated with malnutrition risk in the elderly.


METHODS
A cross-sectional study was designed using a representative sample of Spaniards over 65 years old. Data on sociodemographics and oral health status were gathered by interview and examination. Oral health-related quality of life was evaluated using the Geriatric Oral Health Assessment Index (GOHAI), and malnutrition risk using the Mini Nutritional Assessment (MNA).


RESULTS
The final sample included 2,860 elderly, 41.7 percent males and 58.3 percent females, with a mean age of 73.7 +/- 6.8 years. Mean GOHAI score was 52.1 +/- 7.2, with 70.7 percent of the sample needing oral health care according to this index. The mean MNA score was 24.0 +/- 3.31; 3.5 percent of the elderly were malnourished, 31.5 percent were at risk of malnutrition, and 65.0 percent were considered adequately nourished. A strong association was found between mean GOHAI and MNA scores.
Gil-Montoya
J A
JA
University of Granada School of Dentistry, Granada, Spain. jagil@ugr.es
Subirá
C
C
Ramón
J M
JM
González-Moles
M A
MA
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004245:DMF Index; D003680:Deglutition Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology; D016321:Dental Care for Aged / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D001068:Feeding and Eating Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D015577:Geriatric Assessment; D006801:Humans; D007326:Institutionalization; D007575:Jaw, Edentulous / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D044342:Malnutrition / Q000453:epidemiology; D008409:Mastication / Q000502:physiology; D008875:Middle Aged; D020380:Needs Assessment / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D015596:Nutrition Assessment; D009752:Nutritional Status; D009909:Oral Health; D011788:Quality of Life; D012307:Risk Factors; D013030:Spain / Q000453:epidemiology; D014987:Xerostomia / Q000453:epidemiology