IADR Abstract Archives
Masticatory Performance and QoL of Older Adults in Long-Term Care
Objectives: To investigate the relationship between masticatory performance (MP) of older adults receiving long-term care services and their oral health-related quality of life (OHRQoL) and general health-related quality of life (HRQoL).
Methods: Older adults aged 60 years and above who were able to communicate clearly were recruited from day care centers (DCs) and residential care homes (RCHs) in the Hong Kong Island. MP of participants was assessed (i) objectively using colour-changeable chewing gum, maximum anterior and posterior bite force; and (ii) subjectively using a validated self-rated chewing function questionnaire (CFQ). OHRQoL and HRQoL were evaluated using the validated Cantonese version of Geriatric Oral Health Assessment Index (GOHAI) and 12-item Short-Form Health Survey (SF-12), respectively. The score from SF-12 was aggregated into a physical component summary (PCS-12) and a mental component summary (MCS-12) score. Covariates including smoking habit, disease count, nutritional status, handgrip strength, cognitive status, frailty, and functional status, were also recorded.
Results: A total of 219 elders (70% women, mean age: 83.3±8.6 years) were recruited from six DCs (n=97) and nine RCHs (n=122). The number needed to screen to recruit one participant was 3 for DCs and 10 for RCHs. The mean GOHAI, PCS-12 and MCS-12 scores were 49.8±7.3, 38.2±9.8 and 53.4±10.5, respectively. Multiple linear regression controlling for covariates showed that CFQ score had significant positive association with GOHAI and MCS-12 scores, whilst maximum posterior bite force was inversely associated with MCS-12. There were no statistically significant relations between objective and self-rated measures of MP and PCS-12 score.
Conclusions: Among the Chinese older adults receiving long-term care, a better subjective MP was associated with a better OHRQoL and mental health aspect of HRQoL, whereas a higher maximum posterior bite force was associated with a poorer mental health status.
Methods: Older adults aged 60 years and above who were able to communicate clearly were recruited from day care centers (DCs) and residential care homes (RCHs) in the Hong Kong Island. MP of participants was assessed (i) objectively using colour-changeable chewing gum, maximum anterior and posterior bite force; and (ii) subjectively using a validated self-rated chewing function questionnaire (CFQ). OHRQoL and HRQoL were evaluated using the validated Cantonese version of Geriatric Oral Health Assessment Index (GOHAI) and 12-item Short-Form Health Survey (SF-12), respectively. The score from SF-12 was aggregated into a physical component summary (PCS-12) and a mental component summary (MCS-12) score. Covariates including smoking habit, disease count, nutritional status, handgrip strength, cognitive status, frailty, and functional status, were also recorded.
Results: A total of 219 elders (70% women, mean age: 83.3±8.6 years) were recruited from six DCs (n=97) and nine RCHs (n=122). The number needed to screen to recruit one participant was 3 for DCs and 10 for RCHs. The mean GOHAI, PCS-12 and MCS-12 scores were 49.8±7.3, 38.2±9.8 and 53.4±10.5, respectively. Multiple linear regression controlling for covariates showed that CFQ score had significant positive association with GOHAI and MCS-12 scores, whilst maximum posterior bite force was inversely associated with MCS-12. There were no statistically significant relations between objective and self-rated measures of MP and PCS-12 score.
Conclusions: Among the Chinese older adults receiving long-term care, a better subjective MP was associated with a better OHRQoL and mental health aspect of HRQoL, whereas a higher maximum posterior bite force was associated with a poorer mental health status.