Article
Dietary, self-reported oral health and socio-demographic predictors of general health status among older adults

https://doi.org/10.1007/s12603-012-0006-3Get rights and content
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Abstract

Objective

Poor dietary habits and nutritional intake are associated with a range of chronic diseases. Oral health may be directly associated with general health status, as well as related to diet. The aims are to assess dietary, self-reported oral health and socio-demographic predictors of general health status among older adults.

Design

Cross-sectional mailed survey.

Participants

A random sample of adults in Adelaide, South Australia aged 60–71 years in 2008.

Measurements

Health status was measured using the EuroQol (EQ-5D). Compliance with dietary guidelines was measured using a 16-item index of grocery purchasing. Oral health was measured by self-reported number of teeth, oro-facial pain and sore gums. Socio-demographics included age, sex, birth place and subjective social status.

Results

Responses were collected from n=444 persons (response rate = 68.8%). The average EQ-5D score was 0.80 (se=0.01). Unadjusted analyses showed (p<0.05) EQ-5D scores were lower in the bottom tertile of compliance with dietary guidelines, for those reporting oro-facial pain, sore gums and fewer teeth, and for the lower social status group. Multivariate analyses showed (p<0.05) lower compliance with dietary guidelines was associated with poorer general health (beta=−0.10), as was oro-facial pain (beta=−0.11), sore gums (beta=−0.17), and lower social status (beta=−0.28).

Conclusions

Socio-economic status, oral symptoms and compliance with dietary guidelines were associated with general health status.

Key words

General health
self-reported oral health
diet
socio-demographics
older adults

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