Racial/Ethnic Differences in the Joint Effect of Edentulism and Diabetes on All-Cause Mortality Risks: A 12-Year
Xiang Qi1, Chenxin Tan1, Huabin Luo2
1Rory Meyers College of Nursing, New York University, New York, New York, USA.
Journal of Public Health Dentistry
|June 18, 2025
Summary
Diabetes mellitus (DM) and edentulism increase mortality risk, particularly in combination. This risk is additive for White adults, highlighting racial/ethnic differences in edentulism
Area of Science:
- Gerontology
- Public Health
- Epidemiology
Background:
- Edentulism (tooth loss) and diabetes mellitus (DM) are prevalent conditions in older adults.
- The combined impact of edentulism and DM on mortality, especially across different racial/ethnic groups, remains under-researched.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the joint effect of edentulism and DM on all-cause mortality in older adults.
- To determine if the combined effect of edentulism and DM on mortality differs by race/ethnicity.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of US Health and Retirement Study (HRS) data from 2006-2018, including non-Hispanic Whites, non-Hispanic Blacks, and Hispanics aged 50 years and older.
- Mortality data sourced from the National Death Index and HRS surveys.
- Edentulism and DM were self-reported, with DM also confirmed by medication use or HbA1c levels. Cox proportional-hazard models with inverse probability treatment weighting were employed.
Main Results:
- Diabetes mellitus was associated with increased mortality across all racial/ethnic groups studied.
- Edentulism independently predicted higher mortality risk only in non-Hispanic Whites.
- The combination of DM and edentulism resulted in the highest mortality risk across all groups, with a significant additive interaction observed specifically in Whites.
Conclusions:
- Diabetes mellitus and edentulism present an additive mortality risk for White adults.
- Significant racial/ethnic disparities exist in the association between edentulism and mortality risk.
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