2019 Volume 11 Issue 4 Pages 391-398
Purpose: There are few reports on the relationship between the items examined for deterioration of oral function and the oral health related quality of life (OHRQoL), while it is considered that four phases of early frailty signs in the food environment and oral function are related to OHRQoL. In this study, the morbidity of deterioration of oral function and its effect on OHRQoL in community residents in Sapporo were evaluated.
Methods: The subjects of this study were those aged over 65 who agreed to the research. Examinations on oral function were carried out and OHRQoL was evaluated by OHIP-14. For statistical analysis, the Wilcoxon test or Kruskal-Wallis was used for comparison of OHIP-14 and each variable. The Steel-Dwass test was used for multiple comparison. Spearman’s rank correlation coefficient was calculated from the number of items with oral hypofunction and the OHIP-14 score. The odds ratio for OHIP-14 for each test was determined by logistic regression analysis.
Results: The OHIP-14 score was significantly higher for the subjects with less than 20 teeth. Eighteen percent of the subjects corresponded to three items or more and were judged as oral hypofunction. There was a significant correlation between the number of items with oral hypofunction and the OHIP-14 score, and the number of remaining teeth and swallowing were factors significantly related to the OHIP-14 score.
Conclusion: Eighteen percent of the subjects were diagnosed as oral hypofunction among community residents interested in oral health. The number of remaining teeth and swallowing were related to the OHIP-14 score. As the number of items of oral hypofunction increased, OHRQoL decreased.
