Perceived oral symptoms and health among the elderly in Korea

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the relationship between perceived oral symptoms(POS) and perceived oral health(POH) status among the elderly in Korea.

Methods: All 443 subjects aged 60 or more in 6 welfare institutions selected using cluster sampling were surveyed cross-sectionally the self-reporting questionnaire. All 443 subjects provided written informed consents of the Seoul National University Dental Hospital Institutional Review Boards.

The questionnaires consisted of POH(a dependent variable) and 8 POS(main explanatory variables) and socio-economic characteristics and perceived general health, smoking and drinking(confounding variables). For crude relationships, bivariate analysis such as Chi-square, ANOVA, correlation analysis were used. For adjusted relationships, multivariate linear regression analysis were applied.

Results: Sixty percent of the elderly perceived oral health that their was poor or very poor. Trouble biting/chewing, periodontal status and toothache were significantly associated with POH. Trouble biting/chewing showed the highest impact of association with POH(â=0.3).

Conclusions: POS such as trouble biting/chewing, periodontal status and toothache had clear relationships with POH on the elderly. Oral health promotion in the elderly in welfare institutions in Korea should be focused on trouble biting/chewing, periodontal disease and dental caries with priority.