Health trends in a geriatric and special needs clinic patient population

To quantify differences and recent changes in health status among patients attending the Geriatric and Special Needs Dentistry (GSND) and Family Dentistry (FAMD) clinics at the University of Iowa College of Dentistry.

A total of 388 randomly selected records from patients attending the GSND or FAMD clinics from 1996-2000 or from 2006-2010 were reviewed. Univariate and bivariate analyses were conducted, followed by multivariable logistic regression analyses to compare characteristics of patients across clinics.

Between the two GSND cohorts, the mean number of medications reported increased from 4.0 to 6.5 (p < 0.001).  Within both cohorts, mental health conditions were significantly more prevalent among patients attending the GSND than FAMD clinic (p < 0.001).

Within cohorts, patients seen in the GSND clinic tended to have more medical problems than patients attending the FAMD clinic, particularly mental health conditions; and medication use was more common in the recent cohort in both GSND and FAMD clinics.