title: The pertinence of oral health indicators in nutritional studies in the elderly.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Studies concerning the more appropriate criteria for evaluating oral health in relation to nutrition in the elderly vary greatly. There is a need to identify the most relevant criteria for classifying dental indicators of mastication in nutritional studies, so these indicators may be considered for epidemiological and clinical purposes. The aim of this study was to explore the associations between nutritional deficit and measures of oral health in a group of elderly.
  
  
  METHODS
  A convenience sample of independent elderly aged 65 years or more attending two primary care clinics in Beirut, Lebanon was selected. Data were collected from a questionnaire including the Mini-Nutritional Assessment (MNA), Geriatric Oral Health Assessment Index (GOHAI) and questions about perception of xerostomia and chewing problems. The oral examinations recorded decayed, missing and filled teeth (DMFT), the prosthetic status and the number of functional units (FU).
  
  
  RESULTS
  The sample was composed of 121 women (mean age: 71.59 ± 5.97 years) and 80 men (mean age: 72.74 ± 6.98 years). They were allocated to two groups: 85 participants suffering from malnutrition (MNA score < 17, n = 17) or at risk of malnutrition (17 < MNA score < 24, n = 68) and 116 participants with a normal nutritional status (MNA score ≥ 24). Parameters that explain MNA variations were perception of xerostomia (OR = 3.49, 95% CI [1.66-7.34]), number of FU (OR = 2.79, 95% CI [1.49; 5.22]), and GOHAI score (OR = 2.905, 95% CI [1.40; 6.00]).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Further studies exploring factors affecting nutrition in the elderly should take into consideration perception of xerostomia, number of FUs and GOHAI score.
authors.affiliation: Department of Prosthetic Dentistry, School of Dentistry, Saint-Joseph University, Beirut, Lebanon; Department of Public Health, School of Medicine, Saint-Joseph University, Beirut, Lebanon; Clermont University, University of Auvergne, CROC-EA4847, Centre de Recherche en Odontologie Clinique, BP 10448, F-63000 Clermont-Ferrand, France. Electronic address: pronada99@hotmail.com.
authors.forename: Nada
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: El Osta
authors.affiliation: Clermont University, University of Auvergne, CROC-EA4847, Centre de Recherche en Odontologie Clinique, BP 10448, F-63000 Clermont-Ferrand, France; CHU Clermont-Ferrand, Service d'Odontologie, Hotel-Dieu, F-63000 Clermont-Ferrand, France. Electronic address: martine.hennequin@udamail.fr.
authors.forename: Martine
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hennequin
authors.affiliation: Clermont University, University of Auvergne, CROC-EA4847, Centre de Recherche en Odontologie Clinique, BP 10448, F-63000 Clermont-Ferrand, France; CHU Clermont-Ferrand, Service d'Odontologie, Hotel-Dieu, F-63000 Clermont-Ferrand, France. Electronic address: stephanie.tubert@udamail.fr.
authors.forename: Stephanie
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Tubert-Jeannin
authors.affiliation: Department of Periodontology, School of Dentistry, Saint-Joseph University, Beirut, Lebanon. Electronic address: nada.naaman@usj.edu.lb.
authors.forename: Nada Bou
authors.initials: NB
authors.lastname: Abboud Naaman
authors.affiliation: Department of Public Health, School of Medicine, Saint-Joseph University, Beirut, Lebanon. Electronic address: lanaosta@hotmail.com.
authors.forename: Lana
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: El Osta
authors.affiliation: Department of Public Health, School of Medicine, Saint-Joseph University, Beirut, Lebanon. Electronic address: negibgeahchan@yahoo.com.
authors.forename: Negib
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Geahchan
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D015577:Geriatric Assessment; D006801:Humans; D007861:Lebanon; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D044342:Malnutrition / Q000150:complications / Q000503:physiopathology; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D015596:Nutrition Assessment; D009752:Nutritional Status; D009909:Oral Health / Q000592:standards*; D011788:Quality of Life; D012307:Risk Factors; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014987:Xerostomia / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology
keywords: Dental status; Elderly; Masticatory function; Nutrition; Oral health related quality of life