Deterioração da saúde bucal e fenótipo de fragilidade em idosos de um município do centro-sul baiano

Abstract

Objectives: To describe the deterioration of oral health and the frailty phenotype of the elderly population in the city of Guanambi, Bahia. Methods: Cross-sectional, home-based study carried out between March and April 2023, through interviews and collection of objective measurements. To measure the deterioration of oral health were used the indicator of tooth loss (edentulism). The frailty phenotype was defined based on five characteristics: weight loss, weakness, limited mobility of the lower limbs, exhaustion, and a low level of physical activity. The prevalences of the different categories of tooth loss and the frailty phenotype were calculated, and the associations with the explanatory variables were evaluated using multinomial logistic regression, with estimates of the prevalence ratio (PR) and 95% confidence interval (95% CI). Results: Of the 449 respondents, 53.7% had total edentulism, 20.5% were partially edentulous, and 25.8% were dentate elderly people. This factors were associated with total tooth loss: age greater than or equal to 80 years (RP=2.50); being female (RP=2.62); never having studied (RP=6.25) and having 1 to 5 years of study (RP=3.43), assessment of oral health as fair (RP=0.34) and poor and very poor (RP=0.12); and the last dental appointment was 1 year or more ago (RP=2.04). Frailty was observed in 25.6%, 51.7% were pre-frail, and 22.7% were robust elderly people. The following were positively associated with frailty: living in urban areas (RP=3.51); age 70 to 79 years (RP=3.49) and 80 years and over (RP=24.60); never having studied (RP=3.14); self-reported health as fair (RP=2.91) and poor or very poor (PR=21.69); poor physical health on at least one day in the last 30 days (RP=2.61); and a report of a diagnosis of two or more morbidities (RP=2.85). Total edentulism (RP=2.81) and self assessment of oral health as poor/very poor (RP=3.41) showed a significant increase in the prevalence of frailty after adjusting for the region of residence. Conclusions: The elderly in Guanambi show a high degree of deterioration in oral health, revealed through extensive tooth loss. Frailty also had a high prevalence, highlighting the vulnerability of the studied population. To maintain healthy teeth in the mouths of the young and adult population and to establish the functionality of lost elements in the elderly population, we need effective policies, mainly through prosthetic rehabilitation. Furthermore, these oral health policies cannot be debated in isolation, as tooth loss is also associated with greater frailty among the elderly. Oral health policies must aim to provide comprehensive care to individuals who will benefit from them, ensuring healthy aging in conditions of dignity. Keywords: Aged; Tooth Loss; Frailty; Cross- Sectional Studies.