ABSTRACT
AIM: To assess factors associated with the deterioration of self-rated chewing ability among adults aged 60 years and older over a 6-year period. METHODS: We carried out a case-control study nested in a cohort involving 890 individuals living in the city of Sao Paulo from 2000 to 2006. The outcome was the reduction of self-rated chewing ability. Covariates on demographic, socioeconomic, behavior, cognitive, and functional and physical status variables were investigated. Simple and multiple analyses were carried out using unconditional logistic regression with hierarchical selection of variables. RESULTS: We analyzed 236 cases and 654 controls. In the unadjusted assessment, the reduction of self-rated chewing ability was associated with being aged older than 74 years, widowed, low schooling/income, not having a microwave oven or a car, physical inactivity, poor/regular self-rated health, to feel disgusted, poor/regular self-rated memory, one or more compromised daily life activities, dependence for daily life activities and to report less than half of teeth. Older adults aged older than 74 years and widowers had twice the odds of the outcome in the final model. Adjusted for demographic variables, individuals with lower income showed a similar increase of odds (OR 2.06 95% CI 1.31-3.23). To report poor/regular memory (OR 1.85 95% CI 1.28-2.67) and less than half remaining teeth (OR 1.76 95%CI 1.06-2.93) were significant factors in the adjusted model. CONCLUSION: Advanced age, low income, widowhood, poor/regular memory and less than half remaining teeth were important risk indicators for the reduction of self-rated chewing ability among individuals aged 60 years or older.
