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Health behaviours and quality of life in independently living South Australians aged 75 years or older
Author(s) -
Amarase,
Keuskamp D,
Balasubramanian M,
Brennan DS
Publication year - 2018
Publication title -
australian dental journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.701
H-Index - 71
eISSN - 1834-7819
pISSN - 0045-0421
DOI - 10.1111/adj.12583
Subject(s) - medicine , quality of life (healthcare) , oral health , socioeconomic status , gerontology , cross sectional study , environmental health , population , family medicine , nursing , pathology
Background This study evaluated the associations between oral and general health behaviours, self‐reported health and quality of life of adults aged 75 years or older living independently in South Australia. Methods A cross sectional study based on a self‐report mailed questionnaire was conducted in 590 independently living adults aged 75 years or older. Self‐ratings of oral health and general health were assessed using single‐item global ratings. Quality of life was measured using the Oral Health Impact Profile and the EuroQol instrument for health utility. Results The overall response rate was 78%. The current analyses were restricted to 354 dentate older adults. Increasing age and being female were negatively associated with EuroQol scores. Good self‐rated oral and general health were more prevalent in participants with higher social status who also had lower oral health impact and higher EuroQol scores. Good self‐rated oral and general health were less prevalent while oral health impact was greater in participants who ate few fruits, vegetables or dairy products. Conclusions Self‐rated health and quality of life were poor in older adults with inadequate fruit/vegetables/dairy intake and lower social status. These findings suggest that nutrition and socioeconomic factors may be important to the oral and general health of adults aged 75 years or older.