Association of Root/Coronal Caries and Diseases/Medication in Colombian Nursing-home Elderly

Objectives: To explore associations between presence of active root/coronal caries lesions and disability-related chronic diseases and/or hyposalivation-related medication in Colombian nursing-home elderly.
Methods: After IRB and consent forms, elderly with ≥1 tooth present were clinically assessed at nursing homes by three trained examiners for root caries (modified-ICDAS: initial/moderate/extensive active/inactive) and coronal caries (ICDAS-merged: initial/moderate/extensive active/inactive). Information about mental/motor disability-related chronic diseases, prescribed hyposalivation-related medication was obtained from medical records. Exploration of associations was conducted using bivariate analysis (Stata/ST 15.1). The primary outcome was presence of active root/coronal caries lesion/s.
Results: A total of 226 elderly residents in nursing homes 60 - 106 years old (90.3% ≥65 years), 63.7% female. The prevalence and mean number of surfaces with root and coronal caries lesions were of 46% and 1.09±2.24, and of 54.4% and 5.0±10.5, respectively. Respective figures for root active caries lesions and coronal active caries lesions were 40.3% and 1.25±2.44, and 50.9% and 4.7±9.6. Most subjects had ≥1 systemic disease as hypertension, Parkinson’s disease, diabetes or dementia (94.2%), and disabling diseases (67.7%). The majority was using hyposalivation-related medication (90.7%). The only statistically significant association found was between sex and the presence of active coronal caries lesions, with women having a higher proportion of active coronal caries lesions than men (64.2% vs.36.8%) (p=0.03).
Conclusions: Elderly in Colombian nursing homes showed high levels of root/coronal caries, disabling multi-morbidities and medication use, with women having a higher proportion of active coronal caries lesions than men.