Predictors of Chewing Discomfort among Community-dwelling Elderly

Article information

Res Community Public Health Nurs. 2017;28(3):302-312

Publication date (electronic) : 2017 September 12

doi : https://doi.org/10.12799/jkachn.2017.28.3.302

College of Nursing, Hanyang University, Seoul, Korea

Corresponding author: Hong, Gwi-Ryung Son College of Nursing, Hanyang University, 222 Wangsimni-ro, Seongdong-gu, Seoul 04763, Korea. Tel: +82-2-2220-0701, Fax: +82-2-2220-4711, E-mail: grson@hanyang.ac.kr

Received 2017 June 14; Revised 2017 August 21; Accepted 2017 August 24.

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this study was to identify associated factors of chewing discomfort among community-dwelling elderly.

Methods

The study was cross-sectional design and secondary data analysis using the 6th Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. Among the total of 7,550 participants, data was analyzed with 1,126 adults aged 65 years and over. Chewing discomfort was assessed by the perceived chewing discomfort. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was used to find the associated factors of chewing discomfort.

Results

Along with 61.7% of the participants reported having chewing discomfort, 85.2% reported to perceive poor oral health and 35.0% had oral pain. In multivariate logistic regression, perceived oral health (OR 3.22, 95% CI 2.24~4.63), oral pain (OR 2.46, 95% CI 1.76~3.43), activity limitation (OR 1.71, 95% CI 1.05~2.80), teeth requiring treatment (OR 1.61, 95% CI 1.14~2.26), number of remaining teeth (OR 1.60, 95% CI 1.22~2.10) and educational level (OR 1.56, 95% CI 1.15~2.12) were the significant predictors of chewing discomfort.

Conclusion

The prevalence in chewing discomfort was high in elderly Koreans and various factors were associated with chewing discomfort. To improve chewing ability, it is suggested that the national level of policies offer strategical oral health programs in this population.

Keywords: Elderly; Community-dwelling; Chewing

Table 1.

Characteristics of the Participants (N=1,126^†)

Table 2.

Univariate^‡ Logistic Regression Models for Chewing Discomfort (N=1,126^†)

Table 3.

Forward Logistic Regression Models^‡ for Chewing Discomfort (N=1,126^†)

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Table 1.

Characteristics of the Participants (N=1,126^†)

Variables	Characteristics	Categories	n^† (%)^‡	M±SE^‡
Personal factor	Age (year)			72.35±0.20
	Gender	Male	502 (43.5)
		Female	624 (56.5)
	Living with spouse	Yes	779 (67.2)
		No	347 (32.8)
	Education (year)	≥7	460 (40.0)
		≤6	666 (60.0)
	Income	High~Middle high	589 (51.3)
		Middle low~Low	537 (48.7)
Psychological factor	Depression	Yes	238 (21.9)	3.22±0.20
Psychological factor		No	888 (78.1)
Physical factor	Activity limitation	Yes	987 (87.0)
Physical factor		No	139 (13.0)
Oral health related factor	Number of remaining teeth	≥21	556 (49.1)	17.84±0.38
		≤20	570 (50.9)
	Teeth requiring treatment	Yes	360 (32.4)
		No	766 (67.6)
	Oral exam (within 1 year)	Yes	201 (18.4)
		No	925 (81.6)
	Denture	Yes	480 (41.6)
		No	646 (58.4)
	Perceived oral health	Good	173 (14.8)
		Poor	953 (85.2)
	Oral pain (within 1 year)	Yes	382 (35.0)
		No	744 (65.0)
	Chewing discomfort	Yes	697 (61.7)
		No	429 (38.3)

SE=Standard error;

^†

Under weighted;

^‡

Weighted.

Table 2.

Univariate^‡ Logistic Regression Models for Chewing Discomfort (N=1,126^†)

Characteristics	Variables	Categories	OR	>95% CI		p
Characteristics	Variables	Categories	OR	Lower	Upper	p
Personal factor	Age (year)		1.02	0.99	1.05	.254
	Gender	Male	Ref.
		Female	1.18	0.89	1.56	.249
	Living with spouse	Yes	Ref.
		No	1.52	1.08	2.15	.016
	Education (year)	≥7	Ref.
		≤6	1.68	1.25	2.25	.001
	Income	High~Middle high	Ref.
		Middle low~Low	1.19	0.09	1.60	.243
Psychological factor	Depression	No	Ref.
Psychological factor		Yes	1.80	1.24	2.62	.002
Physical factor	Activity limitation	No	Ref.
Physical factor		Yes	2.10	1.34	3.30	.001
Oral health related factor	Number of remaining teeth	≥21	Ref.
		≤20	1.59	1.25	2.02	＜.001
	Teeth requiring treatment	No	Ref.
		Yes	1.66	1.21	2.29	.002
	Oral exam (within 1 year)	Yes	Ref.
		No	1.50	1.10	2.03	.010
	Denture	No	Ref.
		Yes	1.58	1.16	2.15	.004
	Perceived oral health	Good	Ref.
		Poor	3.73	2.60	5.35	＜.001
	Oral pain (within 1 year)	No	Ref.
		Yes	2.50	1.82	3.43	＜.001

OR=Odds ratio; CI=Confidential interval; Ref.=Reference;

^†

Under Weighted;

^‡

Weighted.

Table 3.

Forward Logistic Regression Models^‡ for Chewing Discomfort (N=1,126^†)

Variables	Reference	β	SE	p	OR	95% CI
Variables	Reference	β	SE	p	OR	Lower	Upper
Education^§ (≤6)	≥7	-.03	0.08	.004	1.56	1.15	2.12
Activity limitation	Yes	.27	0.13	.032	1.71	1.05	2.80
Number of remaining teeth (≥21)	≤20	.24	0.07	＜.001	1.60	1.22	2.10
Teeth requiring treatment	Yes	.24	0.09	.006	1.61	1.14	2.26
Perceived oral health (good)	Poor	.59	0.09	＜.001	3.22	2.24	4.63
Oral pain (within 1 year)	Yes	.45	0.09	＜.001	2.46	1.76	3.43

SE=Standard error; OR=Odds ratio; CI=Confidential interval;

^†

Under Weighted;

^‡

Weighted;

^§

year.