Association between individual and neighbourhood socioeconomic factors and masticatory efficiency: a cross-sectional analysis of the Paris Prospective Study 3.

BACKGROUND: There is a lack of evidence on the impact of socioeconomic factors on masticatory efficiency. The present study investigates the relationship between individual and neighbourhood socioeconomic factors (main exposure) and the number of masticatory units (MUs) used as surrogate of the masticatory efficiency (main outcome). METHODS: In this cross-sectional study nested in the Paris Prospective Study 3, 4270 adults aged 50-75 and recruited from 13 June 2008 to 31 May 2012 underwent a full-mouth examination. Number of MUs defined as pairs of opposing teeth or dental prostheses allowing mastication, number of missing teeth and gingival inflammation were documented. The individual component of the socioeconomic status was evaluated with an individual multidimensional deprivation score and education level. The neighbourhood component of the socioeconomic status was evaluated with the FDep99 deprivation index. Associations were quantified using marginal models. RESULTS: In multivariate analyses, having less than 5 MUs was associated with (1) the most deprived neighbourhoods (OR=2.27 (95% CI 1.63 to 3.17)), (2) less than 12 years of educational attainment (OR=2.20 (95% CI 1.66 to 2.92)) and (3) the highest individual score of deprivation (OR=3.23 (95% CI 2.24 to 4.65)). Associations with education and individual score of deprivation were consistent across the level of neighbourhood deprivation. Comparable associations were observed with the number of missing teeth. Associations with gingival inflammation were of lower magnitude; the relationship was present for deprivation markers but not for education. CONCLUSION: Poor masticatory efficiency is associated with low educational attainment and high deprivation scores.

The right to be forgotten: a change in access to insurance and loans after childhood cancer?

PURPOSE: Access to insurance for a loan or a mortgage is an important issue for childhood cancer survivors. The aim of this study was to describe difficulties experienced by adult survivors. METHODS: A total of 1920 survivors treated before the age of 18 in five French cancer centers responded to a questionnaire in 2010. Survivors who had tried to obtain a loan were asked if they had experienced difficulties, which were defined as experiencing rejection, higher premiums, or exclusions. The questionnaire investigated health problems related to the circulatory, respiratory, digestive, urinary, endocrine, hormonal, and nervous systems. Second tumors, diabetes mellitus, cardiac disease, and stroke were ascertained from a physician's report or medical records. Multivariable analyses were conducted to identify the characteristics of survivors reporting difficulties. RESULTS: Difficulties were experienced by 10.4% of those who had tried to obtain a small loan (n = 787) and by 30.1% of those who had tried to obtain a home loan (n = 909). Disclosure of childhood cancer to the insurer and amputation surgery were negatively associated with insurance accessibility, even when controlling for age, gender, education, health-related unemployment, familial situation, and severe or life-threatening conditions such as cardiovascular diseases, second cancers, or diabetes. CONCLUSION: This study showed that the financial burden of cancer can extend decades after diagnosis. IMPLICATIONS FOR CANCER SURVIVORS: Thanks to a 2016 law, French cancer survivors no longer have to disclose their cancer to insurers after a fixed number of years. This law will probably lessen the socioeconomic burden of cancer.