[Oral health conditions and systemic diseases prevalence in long term institutionalizated elderly. A cross sectional study in Parma province].
People aging 74 years and more are in Parma province about 11,5% of residents. Disability conditions and familiar ties loss frequently let the elderly to recovery in long term home care where quality of care became synonymous of quality of life. To best evaluate oral health conditions in institutionalized elderly and their needs of care, we conducted, between August 2002 and July 2003 a cross-sectional study with clinical oral examinations in 200 long-term patients. Number of teeth, tooth remnants, mucosal findings, edentulousness, level of dental hygiene, needs for operative treatment and prevalence of systemic disease associated were evaluated. Subjects' mean age was 84,4 years (interval 57 _ 105); 59% were edentulous. As reported by several authors, a correlation between edentulousness and cardiovascular disease was found even after controlling for confounding variables (age, sex, smoking habit and Alzheimer disease).
Bonanini
Mauro
M
Dipartimento di Scienze Otorino-Odonto-Oftalmologiche e Cervico Facciali, Sezione di Odontostomatologia, Università degli Studi di Parma.
Veronesi
Licia
L
Colucci
Maria Eugenia
ME
Guidotti
Rebecca
R
Tanzi
Maria Luisa
ML
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000544:Alzheimer Disease / Q000453:epidemiology*; D002391:Catchment Area, Health; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D007326:Institutionalization / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D007558:Italy / Q000453:epidemiology; D008875:Middle Aged; D009066:Mouth, Edentulous / Q000453:epidemiology; D009910:Oral Hygiene