Association between oral health status and nutritional status in south Brazilian independent-living older people.
OBJECTIVE
Evidence suggests that older people with partial tooth loss and edentulism change their diet and lack specific nutrients, but few studies have assessed whether poor oral status is associated with risk of malnutrition and malnutrition in independent-living older people. We evaluated if poor oral status was associated with risk of malnutrition and malnutrition in this population.


METHODS
A random sample of 471 south Brazilians > or =60 y of age was evaluated. Measurements included a questionnaire to assess sociodemographic, behavioral, general, and oral health data; nutritional status assessment, according to the Mini-Nutritional Assessment (MNA); and oral status assessment, by means of oral examinations assessing the number of teeth and use of dental prostheses. Correlates of risk of malnutrition/malnutrition according to the MNA were assessed by means of multivariate logistic regression.


RESULTS
Participants who reported dissatisfaction with their gingival health and edentulous persons wearing only one denture were more likely to be at risk of malnutrition, according to the screening MNA. Dissatisfaction with gingival health was a risk indicator, whereas having one to eight natural teeth was protective against the risk of malnutrition/malnutrition according to the full MNA.


CONCLUSIONS
In the present study, older people with a compromised oral status had higher odds for risk of malnutrition. The maintenance of a few teeth had a crucial role in increasing the chance of maintaining an adequate nutritional status in the studied population. In cases where edentulism was present, complete dental prosthetic use was associated with better nutritional status.
De Marchi
Renato José
RJ
Department of Community Oral Health, Faculty of Dentistry, Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil. demarchirenato@yahoo.com.br
Hugo
Fernando Neves
FN
Hilgert
Juliana Balbinot
JB
Padilha
Dalva Maria Pereira
DM
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000375:Aging; D001938:Brazil / Q000453:epidemiology; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003824:Denture, Complete / Q000009:adverse effects*; D003829:Denture, Partial / Q000009:adverse effects; D005260:Female; D015577:Geriatric Assessment / Q000379:methods; D006304:Health Status; D006305:Health Status Indicators; D006801:Humans; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D044342:Malnutrition / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology; D008875:Middle Aged; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D015596:Nutrition Assessment; D009752:Nutritional Status; D009909:Oral Health; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012307:Risk Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires