Multinivel Analysis of Funtional Dentition in Adults in Chile

Objectives: To determine the effect of region of residence and their socioeconomic characteristics in functional dentition in adults in Chile
Methods: Secondary analysis of the National Health Survey 2016-17 in adults ≥25 years old (n=4791). A two-level model was made with regional (Index of Vulnerability, Schooling gap and 20/20 income ratio) and individual (demographics and socioeconomics) variables.
Results: There is a nesting effect by region (ICC: 0.04) in the null model, which decreases in the final model adjusted by regional and individual variables (ICC: 0.02). Variance between regions increases (0.14 to 0.19) when adjusting for individual variables but decreases (0.14 to 0.05) when adjusting for regional variables, which is maintained in the final model. Main variables associated with functional dentition were schooling gap (aOR 2.01; 95%CI 1.47 - 2.78), 20/20 income ratio (aOR 1.54; CI95% 1.10 – 2.16), ≥65 years old (aOR 39.24; CI95% 28.65 - 53.75) vs 25-44 years old and low education level (aOR 5.05; CI95% 3.68 – 6.94) vs high education level.
Conclusions: Although there is a nesting effect by region, the degree of correlation between inhabitants within region is reduced in the final model as well as the variance between regions, both changes due mainly to regional variables.