Impact of tooth loss on walking speed decline over time in older adults: a population-based cohort study

Abstract

Background Tooth loss has been linked to poor health such as chronic diseases and mobility limitations. Prospective evidence on the association between tooth loss and walking speed decline is however lacking.AimsTo examine the impact of tooth loss on walking speed over time and explore whether inflammation may account for this association.MethodsThis study included 2695 persons aged 60 years and older, who were free from severe mobility limitation at baseline. Information on dental status was assessed through self-report during the nurse interview at baseline. Walking speed baseline and at 3- and 6-year follow-ups was assessed when participants walked at their usual pace. Covariates included age, sex, education, lifestyle-related factors, and chronic diseases. Blood samples were taken, and C-reactive protein (CRP) was tested.ResultsAt baseline, 389 (13.1 %) participants had partial tooth loss and 204 (6.9 %) had complete tooth loss. Mixed-effects models showed that tooth loss was associated with a greater decline in walking speed over time after adjustment for lifestyle-related factors and chronic diseases (p = 0.001 for interaction between time and tooth loss on walking speed decline); however, when further adjusting for inflammation (CRP), the association was attenuated and no longer significant.ConclusionTooth loss was associated with an accelerated decline in walking speed in older adults. Inflammation may play a role in the association between tooth loss and walking speed decline.

Association between oral health and general health indicators in older adults

“… 12 showed that OH problems predicted the development of depression. An evidence from Sweden suggested that losing teeth was associated with a decline in walking speed over time 13 . Vice versa, depression in younger ages is strongly associated with the chewing function at later ages 14 whereas declining function ability over time is a risk of having chewing difficulties 10 .…”

Lack of posterior occlusal support predicts the reduction in walking speed in 80‐year‐old Japanese adults: A 3‐year prospective cohort study with propensity score analysis by the SONIC Study Group

“…Possible confounders were chosen for their potential associations with the outcomes of interest based the findings of previous studies. [6][7][8][9] The Table 1 shows the baseline characteristics of the groups with and without posterior occlusal support without matching. There were no significant differences between groups in terms of economic status, smoking habits, history of stroke, CRP level, MoCA-J score, or walking speed.…”

“…PSM was used to address the large differences in sample size and baseline characteristics in the study population. Possible confounders were chosen for their potential associations with the outcomes of interest based the findings of previous studies . The predicted PS was calculated based on a logistic regression model, which estimated the probability of losing posterior occlusal support as a function of all relevant variables (sex, years of education, economic status, smoking habits, history of stroke, CRP level, height, weight, grip strength, MoCA‐J score and walking speed at baseline).…”

“…In cross‐sectional studies, Yamaga et al and Kimura et al reported that the physical performance of the lower extremities is associated with occlusion. In longitudinal studies, Welmer et al reported that tooth loss status was associated with accelerated decline in walking speed in older adults. Okuyama et al reported that the lack of dental occlusion influences the lower extremities.…”

Desgaste dentário e perdas dentárias em pacientes eutróficos, portadores de obesidade mórbida e submetidos à cirurgia bariátrica

“…tem uma relação significativa com o baixo peso, por exemplo, foi relatado que os participantes que estavam abaixo do peso mastigavam mais assimetricamente e mais lentamente do que os participantes com peso normal ou obesos(Song et al, 2017). A doença periodontal e a perda de dente têm sido associadas a deficiências de funções físicas, como fraca força muscular e limitações de mobilidade(Welmer et al, 2017) Okamoto et al, 2017)…”