Edentulism and Individual Factors of Active Aging Framework in Colombia

While edentulism remains a serious public health problem for older adults in Colombia, few analyses have been conducted from the framework of active aging as a part of the positive discourse of aging. This study analyzed complete edentulism and its relationship with determinants including personal, behavioral, and health systems and social services.

This study included a total of 19,004 older adults. We used univariate, bivariate, and multivariate logistic regression type scores to investigate the relationships between the variables. The personal determinants included basic (Barthel scale) and instrumental activities of daily living (Lawton scale), public transportation, functional limitations, self-perceived health, and health problems. The behavioral factors included alcohol and tobacco use, mini nutritional tests, and physical activity. The last determinant was the healthcare system, while social services access included dental services. The analysis also included sociodemographic variables.

The results revealed significant associations for the variables of the three determinants, including the risk of malnutrition (odds ratio [OR]=1.15), functional limitation (OR=1.15), moderate physical activity (OR=1.08), and access to dental services (OR=2.31). Sex, years of education, and race were also risk factors, among other variables. Personal determinants, behavior, and use and access to health services were related to edentulism in older adults.

These findings support the need to include different analyses of edentulism from multicausality and to understand the oral cavity and the living conditions of aging adults.