title: Relationship Between Self-Rated Masticatory Ability and Independent Life in Community-Dwelling Older Adults.
abstract: Objective:The aim of the present study was to elucidate the influence of self-rated masticatory ability on independent living in community-dwelling older adults.Method:A total of 1,377 subjects aged 65 and over who lived in Kumamoto City, Japan were participated in a survey to investigate critical factors for self-reliance in older adults. In this study, we defined independent life in older adults as self-perceived adequate health without long-term care certification. Logistic regression analysis was used to assess self-perceived masticatory ability in relation to the independent life.Results:The population with adequate self-rated masticatory ability included a significantly higher proportion of subjects with good self-perceived health without long-term care (72.7%) than the remaining subjects (27.3%). A logistic regression analysis revealed that there was significant relationship between subjective adequate mastication and living a self-reliant healthy life (p< .001).Conclusion:Our results showed that satisfactory masticatory function was positively related to a self-reliant life with subjective healthy conditions in community-dwelling older adults, which was associated with an extended active life expectancy.
authors.affiliation: Kagomachi Hironaka Dental Clinic, Kumamoto, Japan.
authors.forename: Mikiko
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hironaka
authors.affiliation: Kumamoto Health Science University, Japan.
authors.forename: Yoshiko
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Kayama
authors.affiliation: Kyushu Dental University, Fukuoka, Japan.
authors.forename: Yoshie
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Misaka
authors.affiliation: Kyushu Dental University, Fukuoka, Japan.
authors.forename: Sumio
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Akifusa
keywords: active life expectancy; geriatrics; health services mastication