title: Factors associated with deterioration of self-rated chewing ability among adults aged 60 years and older over a 6-year period.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To assess factors associated with the deterioration of self-rated chewing ability among adults aged 60 years and older over a 6-year period.
  
  
  METHODS
  We carried out a case-control study nested in a cohort involving 890 individuals living in the city of Sao Paulo from 2000 to 2006. The outcome was the reduction of self-rated chewing ability. Covariates on demographic, socioeconomic, behavior, cognitive, and functional and physical status variables were investigated. Simple and multiple analyses were carried out using unconditional logistic regression with hierarchical selection of variables.
  
  
  RESULTS
  We analyzed 236 cases and 654 controls. In the unadjusted assessment, the reduction of self-rated chewing ability was associated with being aged older than 74 years, widowed, low schooling/income, not having a microwave oven or a car, physical inactivity, poor/regular self-rated health, to feel disgusted, poor/regular self-rated memory, one or more compromised daily life activities, dependence for daily life activities and to report less than half of teeth. Older adults aged older than 74 years and widowers had twice the odds of the outcome in the final model. Adjusted for demographic variables, individuals with lower income showed a similar increase of odds (OR 2.06 95% CI 1.31-3.23). To report poor/regular memory (OR 1.85 95% CI 1.28-2.67) and less than half remaining teeth (OR 1.76 95%CI 1.06-2.93) were significant factors in the adjusted model.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Advanced age, low income, widowhood, poor/regular memory and less than half remaining teeth were important risk indicators for the reduction of self-rated chewing ability among individuals aged 60 years or older.
authors.affiliation: Department of Public Health Practice, Public Health School, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil.
authors.forename: Alzira Sueli
authors.initials: AS
authors.lastname: Gellacic
authors.affiliation: Department of Public Health Practice, Public Health School, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil.
authors.forename: Doralice S C
authors.initials: DS
authors.lastname: Teixeira
authors.affiliation: Department of Epidemiology, Public Health School, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil.
authors.forename: José Leopoldo F
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Antunes
authors.affiliation: Department of Public Health Practice, Public Health School, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil.
authors.forename: Paulo Capel
authors.initials: PC
authors.lastname: Narvai
authors.affiliation: Department of Epidemiology, Public Health School, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil.
authors.forename: Maria Lúcia
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Lebrão
authors.affiliation: Department of Public Health Practice, Public Health School, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil.
authors.forename: Paulo
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Frazão
mesh_terms: D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D001938:Brazil; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D015331:Cohort Studies; D005260:Female; D015438:Health Behavior; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008409:Mastication / Q000502:physiology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009909:Oral Health; D012307:Risk Factors; D057566:Self Report; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D013997:Time Factors
keywords: elder; longitudinal studies; mastication; oral health; quality of life