Tooth retention predicts good physical performance in older adults.

BACKGROUND: Oral health is closely related to both physical and psychological well-being, as it enables individuals to eat, speak, and socialize. The number of teeth is the most used indicator of oral health. Several reports document a relationship of dental status with a variety of indicators of general health but longitudinal studies employing standardized physical performance tests are infrequent in the scientific literature. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: The Italian elderly participating in the Pro.V.A. longitudinal Study (3099 subjects aged 65+ at baseline, 2196 at the 5-year follow-up 1 and 1641 at the 7-year follow- up 2) underwent detailed interview and extensive clinical and instrumental examination that included validated physical performance measures. Participants were classified into 4 groups according to the number of remaining teeth: 0, 1-7, 8-19, and 20+. To explore the association of the number of remaining teeth with physical function and disability, we performed logistic regression analyses with models progressively adjusted for a wide number of covariates, namely anthropometric (gender, age, BMI), comorbidity (cardio-vascular, osteoarticular, and neurological diseases including depression), muscle strength (assessed for upper and lower limbs), lifestyle (smoking status, alcohol use, leisure time activities) and socioeconomical status (education, income, marital status, loneliness). RESULTS: Dental status correlated with most comorbidities, lifestyle, and socio-economic variables at the univariate analysis at baseline and at follow-ups. A good dental status was significantly associated with better physical functioning and lower disability. The presence of 20+ teeth resulted significantly protective (reference group: 0 teeth) versus mobility-related disability (OR = 0.67), disability (OR = 0.54) and inability to perform heavy duties (OR = 0.62), at follow up 1 and low physical performance score (OR = 0.59) at follow up 2. Conversely, the detrimental effect of edentulism, explored in subjects with or without dentures, was present but not as straightforward. Conclusion. The assessment of a geriatric patient should include an oral evaluation as a good dental status is a crucial component of successful aging.

Assessment of bone mineral density in patients with cirrhosis treated with third-generation nucleos(t)ide analogues: comparison between tenofovir and entecavir.

BACKGROUND AND AIM: Tenofovir and entecavir are nowadays the first-line treatment in hepatitis B virus (HBV)-related cirrhosis. Both drugs were shown to be effective in HBV suppression and well tolerated. The effects of tenofovir on bone mineral density (BMD), however, were shown to worsen the rate of osteoporosis, which is already a common feature in cirrhosis. In contrast, entecavir seems to have no effect on mineral metabolism. The aim of our study was to compare the effects of nucleos(t)ide analogs on bone density in HBV-related cirrhosis. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Fourty-eight patients were treated with tenofovir and 22 patients were treated with entecavir, and were followed prospectively from 2008 to 2013. To evaluate BMD, laboratory examinations, dual-X-ray absorptiometry, and Fracture Risk Assessment Tool were assessed. RESULTS: During the study, no difference was found between the two groups in the plasmatic concentration of calcium, phosphate, vitamin D, parathyroid hormone, or creatinine. Dual-X-ray absorptiometry showed no difference in the T-score and Fracture Risk Assessment Tool showed no significant difference in the 10-year risk of osteoporotic fractures in the two groups. On univariate and multivariate analyses, the only predictors of osteoporosis development were the prognostic scores of liver disease and BMI. CONCLUSION: Both tenofovir and entecavir are effective in treating HBV in cirrhotic patients. The known effects of tenofovir on BMD do not worsen osteoporotic fractures risk compared with entecavir in these patients.

Tooth loss in the elderly and its association with nutritional status, socio-economic and lifestyle factors.

OBJECTIVE: Tooth loss impacts on general health and is a risk factor for malnutrition, disability, loss of self-sufficiency, and deterioration in quality of life. The present study was carried out to evaluate the prevalence of edentulism and its association with social and lifestyle factors in a population of elderly Italians. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Dental, social, and disease conditions were evaluated in a large community-based cohort (3054) of elderly subjects (> or =65 years) of both sexes in northern Italy. Logistic regression analyses with stepwise forward selection were performed to estimate the independent contribution of nutritional, socio-economic, and lifestyle variables to dental status. Adjusted ORs and 95% CI were estimated for variables significantly associated with edentulism. RESULTS: The prevalence of edentulism was about 44.0%. It was more pronounced in females and it was twice as prevalent in the 90+ years age group. Among edentulous subjects, 17.5% wore no prostheses. Difficulties in chewing and in swallowing were reported by 47.6% and 13.7% of the subjects, respectively. Multivariate analysis indicates that edentulism was associated with age in both sexes. For women, independently associated risk factors were: years since menopause >23 (OR = 1.81; 95% CI: 1.37-2.40), number of children >3 (OR = 1.95; 95% CI: 1.36-2.80), and living alone (OR = 1.47; 95% CI: 1.15-1.88). For men, these were serum albumin <40 g/l (OR = 1.79; 95% CI: 1.22-2.63), current smoking (OR = 4.01; 95% CI: 2.59-6.20), and former smoking (OR = 3.42; 95% CI: 2.42-4.82). CONCLUSIONS: The prevalence of edentulism among the elderly Italian population studied was at the high end among Western countries, and higher in women than in men. In women, tooth loss correlated with aging, female events (pregnancies, menopausal status), and living alone. In men, aging and smoking are important determinants of edentulism, which is associated with the risk condition of hypoalbuminemia. Difficulty in chewing was associated with dentition type. In our study, the high prevalence of edentulous subjects without prostheses suggests a need for educational and social measures to improve patients' attitudes to dental care and to encourage the use of prostheses among the elderly.