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Association between tooth loss and frailty among Chinese older adults: the mediating role of dietary diversity.

Publication ,  Journal Article
Xu, X; Zhao, Y; Wu, B; Pei, Y; Gu, D
Published in: BMC geriatrics
October 2023

This study aimed to examine the association between tooth loss and frailty among Chinese older adults and the mediating role of dietary diversity in this association.Data from five waves of the Chinese Longitudinal Healthy Longevity Survey conducted between 2005 and 2018 were used. Path analyses were employed to assess both concurrent and cross-lagged relationships between tooth loss and frailty index while accounting for intrapersonal correlation. Furthermore, the mediation effect of dietary diversity was also examined.In concurrent models, severe tooth loss was associated with frailty after adjusting for demographic characteristics (odds ratio [OR] = 1.82, p < 0.001). The OR of frailty for severe tooth loss was only slightly decreased to 1.74 (p < 0.001) when dietary diversity was added to the model and to 1.64 (p < 0.001) when socioeconomic status, family support, and healthy lifestyles were further adjusted. In the cross-lag or longitudinal models, the ORs were mildly or moderately reduced to 1.29, 1.27, and 1.23, respectively, yet remained statistically significant (p < 0.001 or p < 0.01). The mediation analyses showed that dietary diversity had some small yet significant effects on the relationship between tooth loss and frailty in both concurrent and longitudinal settings.This study improves current knowledge regarding the impact of tooth loss on frailty among Chinese older adults. Future intervention strategies designed to improve healthy diets may have preventive effects against the risk of frailty among Chinese older adults with severe tooth loss.

Duke Scholars

Published In

BMC geriatrics

DOI

EISSN

1471-2318

ISSN

1471-2318

Publication Date

October 2023

Volume

23

Issue

1

Start / End Page

668

Related Subject Headings

  • Tooth Loss
  • Longevity
  • Humans
  • Geriatrics
  • Frailty
  • Frail Elderly
  • East Asian People
  • Diet, Healthy
  • Aged
  • 4206 Public health
 

Citation

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Xu, X., Zhao, Y., Wu, B., Pei, Y., & Gu, D. (2023). Association between tooth loss and frailty among Chinese older adults: the mediating role of dietary diversity. BMC Geriatrics, 23(1), 668. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12877-023-04355-6
Xu, Xin, Yuan Zhao, Bei Wu, Yaolin Pei, and Danan Gu. “Association between tooth loss and frailty among Chinese older adults: the mediating role of dietary diversity.BMC Geriatrics 23, no. 1 (October 2023): 668. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12877-023-04355-6.
Xu, Xin, et al. “Association between tooth loss and frailty among Chinese older adults: the mediating role of dietary diversity.BMC Geriatrics, vol. 23, no. 1, Oct. 2023, p. 668. Epmc, doi:10.1186/s12877-023-04355-6.
Journal cover image

Published In

BMC geriatrics

DOI

EISSN

1471-2318

ISSN

1471-2318

Publication Date

October 2023

Volume

23

Issue

1

Start / End Page

668

Related Subject Headings

  • Tooth Loss
  • Longevity
  • Humans
  • Geriatrics
  • Frailty
  • Frail Elderly
  • East Asian People
  • Diet, Healthy
  • Aged
  • 4206 Public health