Relationship between dental occlusion and functional dependence in elderly Caucasians

Abstract

Objective: To determine whether a relationship exists between the number of functional masticatory units (FMUs) and the level of functional dependence of elderly. Subjects and Methods:The study group comprised 502 elderly Caucasians living in nursing homes in north-west Spain and Portugal. The number of FMUs was counted on direct visual inspection. The degree of dependence was assessed using the Barthel index. The results were validated in a group of 156 elderly. Statistical analysis of the results was performed using a generalised linear model (GLM), a logistic GLM, a ROC-GLM curve and a confusion matrix. Results:The number of FMUs significantly affected the Barthel index score (explained deviance = 27.5%). The number of FMUs was significantly associated with a lower probability of dependence, both for women (explained deviance = 31%) and for men (explained deviance = 33%). The model based on FMUs showed a good discriminatory capacity for dependence (AUC = 0.84 in women and 0.82 in men). The predictive capacity of the dependence model based on FMUs was very high (sensitivity = 0.9 in women and 0.8 in men). Conclusions:In institutionalised elderly Caucasians, the number of FMUs is significantly associated with the Barthel index score and could be a predictive factor for dependence. K E Y W O R D SBarthel index, dental occlusion, dependence, elderly