title: Association Between Tooth Loss, Body Mass Index, and All-Cause Mortality Among Elderly Patients in Taiwan.
abstract: To date, the effect of tooth loss on all-cause mortality among elderly patients with a different weight group has not been assessed. This retrospective cohort study evaluated the data obtained from a government-sponsored, annual physical examination program for elderly citizens residing in Taipei City during 2005 to 2007, and follow-up to December 31, 2010. We recruited 55,651 eligible citizens of Taipei City aged ≥ 65 years, including 29,572 men and 26,079 women, in our study. Their mortality data were ascertained based on the national death files. The number of missing teeth was used as a representative of oral health status. We used multivariate Cox proportional hazards regression analysis to determine the association between tooth loss and all-cause mortality. After adjustment for all confounders, the hazard ratios (HRs) of all-cause mortality in participants with no teeth, 1 to 9 teeth, and 10 to 19 teeth were 1.36 [95% confidence interval (CI): 1.15-1.61], 1.24 (95% CI: 1.08-1.42), and 1.19 (95% CI: 1.09-1.31), respectively, compared with participants with 20 or more teeth. A significant positive correlation of body mass index (BMI) with all-cause mortality was found in underweight and overweight elderly patients and was represented as a U-shaped curve. Subgroup analysis revealed a significant positive correlation in underweight (no teeth: HR = 1.49, 95% CI: 1.21-1.83; 1-9 teeth: HR = 1.23, 95% CI: 1.03-1.47; 10-19 teeth: HR = 1.20, 95% CI: 1.06-1.36) and overweight participants (no teeth: HR = 1.37, 95% CI: 1.05-1.79; 1-9 teeth: HR = 1.27, 95% CI: 1.07-1.52). The number of teeth lost is associated with an increased risk of all-cause mortality, particularly for participants with underweight and overweight.
authors.affiliation: From the Institute of Public Health & Department of Public Health, National Yang Ming University, Taipei, Taiwan (H-YH, Y-LL, Y-JC, C-YW); Department of Education and Research, Taipei City Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan (H-YH, S-YL, Y-CC); Department of Dentistry, Taipei City Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan (Y-LL); Department of Dentistry, School of Dentistry, National Yang-Ming University, Taipei, Taiwan (Y-LL); College of Health Sciences: Public Health, University of California, Irvine, USA (DC); Institute of Hospital and Health Care Administration, National Yang-Ming University, Taipei, Taiwan (NH); and Department of Dermatology, Taipei Veterans General Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan (C-YW).
authors.forename: Hsiao-Yun
authors.initials: HY
authors.lastname: Hu
authors.forename: Ya-Ling
authors.initials: YL
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Shu-Yi
authors.initials: SY
authors.lastname: Lin
authors.forename: Yi-Chang
authors.initials: YC
authors.lastname: Chou
authors.forename: Debbie
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Chung
authors.forename: Nicole
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.forename: Yiing-Jenq
authors.initials: YJ
authors.lastname: Chou
authors.forename: Chen-Yi
authors.initials: CY
authors.lastname: Wu
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D015992:Body Mass Index; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009026:Mortality; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013624:Taiwan / Q000453:epidemiology; D016388:Tooth Loss / Q000453:epidemiology*