Contextual and individual determinants of oral health-related quality of life in older Brazilians

This cross-sectional, population-based study evaluated contextual and individual determinants on the oral health-related quality of life in older Brazilians.

Data from the National Survey of Oral Health were used. The sample was selected by multi-stage probability cluster sampling, with probability proportional to size. The Oral Impacts on Daily Performance (OIDP) was used to evaluate oral health-related quality of life (OHRQoL). Contextual variables of municipalities and individual variables of older people were included. Descriptive, bivariate and multilevel analyses were conducted.

Of the sample of 7619 older Brazilians, 45.7% was impacted by at least one of the OIDP items. The item impact average was 1.2 (95% CI 1.04–1.37). The impact on OHRQoL was lower in older Brazilians residents in municipalities with the highest value of the GINI index (contextual variable) (p = 0.007), among edentulous people (p = 0.001) and dental prosthesis users (p < 0.001). This impact was greater among older people of nonwhite skin color (p = 0.024), lower family income (p = 0.024) and dissatisfied with the oral health (p < 0.001).

A high prevalence of oral problems impacting OHRQoL in older Brazilians was identified. Furthermore, the impact prevalence was related to a positive situation in contextual determinants and a negative situation for the individual, showing a social inequalities profile in relation to individual determinants.