Relationship between tooth loss and mortality in 80-year-old Japanese community-dwelling subjects.
BACKGROUND
Findings from several studies suggest associations between tooth loss and health outcomes, including malnutrition, poor quality of life, and mortality, in older individuals. However, limited information is available regarding whether those associations remain true in very elderly subjects after adequately considering confounding factors such as sex and smoking status. Herein, we determined whether the number of teeth in 80-year-old subjects is an independent predictor of mortality.


METHODS
We initially contacted 1282 80-year-old community-dwelling individuals born in 1917, of whom 697 responded and participated in a baseline study, with follow-up examinations conducted 4 and 5.5 years later. Data from interviews and medical and oral examinations were obtained, and oral health was determined according to the number of teeth remaining in the oral cavity.


RESULTS
A total of 108 and 157 subjects died in 4 years and 5.5 years, respectively, after the baseline study. Tooth loss was significantly associated with mortality at age 85.5, but not at age 84, after adjusting for potential confounders. When the analysis was stratified by sex, we found a stronger association in females in follow-up examinations conducted at both 4- and 5.5 years. On the other hand, the effect of tooth loss on mortality was not significantly different between smokers and non-smokers.


CONCLUSIONS
Tooth loss is a significant predictor of mortality independent of health factors, socio-economic status, and lifestyle in octogenarians, with a stronger association in females.
Ansai
Toshihiro
T
Division of Community Oral Health Science, Department of Health Promotion, Kyushu Dental College, Kitakyushu, Japan. ansai@kyu-dent.ac.jp
Takata
Yutaka
Y
Soh
Inho
I
Awano
Shuji
S
Yoshida
Akihiro
A
Sonoki
Kazuo
K
Hamasaki
Tomoko
T
Torisu
Takehiro
T
Sogame
Akira
A
Shimada
Naoko
N
Takehara
Tadamichi
T
D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D003753:Dental Health Surveys; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007564:Japan / Q000453:epidemiology; D008019:Life Style; D008297:Male; D012307:Risk Factors; D012737:Sex Factors; D012907:Smoking / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000453:epidemiology; D012923:Social Class; D016388:Tooth Loss / Q000150:complications / Q000401:mortality*