A longitudinal intervention study on the relationship between mental and physical health status and oral function in the elderly

本研究调查了牙科干预对老年人群口腔和一般健康状况的影响，分析了老年人群的身心健康状况与口腔健康状况的关系。研究组包括530名70岁或以上的社区居住老年人，他们参加了集体牙科检查，因口腔健康问题被建议咨询牙医，并在一年后参加了后续牙科检查。根据剩余牙齿、完整牙齿、治疗牙齿和龋齿的数量以及CPI评分来评估口腔健康状况。人口统计、生理、心理和社会变量的数据，以及以前的牙科就诊，也通过问卷调查进行了检查。根据随访期的就诊情况将研究组进一步分为依从组和不依从组，通过比较两组间的差异来检验牙科干预的效果。70.2%的受试者被归入顺从组。这组受试者有更多完整或经过处理的牙齿，以及更好的CPI得分，而两组之间在精神和一般健康状况方面没有显著差异。不依从组定期牙科就诊的概率较低。在口腔健康促进中，提倡就诊后通过大规模牙科检查及早发现口腔疾病，但需要更好的方法来改变潜在牙病患者的口腔健康行为和态度。

In the current study, the effects of dental intervention on the oral and general health status were surveyed in the elderly population, and the relationship between the mental and physical health status and the oral health status was analyzed. The study group consisted of 530 community dwelling elderly people aged 70 years or over, who participated in a mass dental examination and were advised to consult dentists because of their oral health problems, and were enrolled in the follow-up dental examination a year later. Oral health status was evaluated according to the numbers of remaining, intact, treated, and decayed teeth and CPI scores. Data on demographic, physical, psychological, and social variables, as well as previous dental visit, were also examined by questionnaire survey. The study group was further divided into compliant and incompliant groups based upon the dental visit during the follow-up period, and the effects of dental intervention were examined by comparing the differences between the two groups. 70.2% of the subjects were classified into compliant group. The subjects in this group had more intact or treated teeth, and better CPI scores, while no significant difference in mental and general health status was observed between the two groups. The probability of regular dental attendance was lower in incompliant group. It is worthwhile in oral health promotion to advocate dental visit following with early detection of dental diseases through mass dental examinations, however, better way would be needed to change the oral health behavior and attitude of latent dental patients.