Factors associated with self-rated health in older adults receiving oral prosthetic rehabilitation

Objectives: To assess factors associated with self-perception of health in older adults submitted to oral prosthetic rehabilitation in order to contribute to a more contextualized planning of public policies, actions and health services aimed at healthy aging. Design: Analytical cross-sectional study. Setting: Dental specialty centers. Participants: 244 people aged 60 years and older enrolled for oral prosthetic rehabilitation. Intervention: Interviews, oral examination and anthropometric measurements. Measurements: A questionnaire assessed demographic and economic data, general health and oral health and self-perception of oral health-related quality of life was measured by the Geriatric Oral Health Assessment Index (GOHAI). Performance in instrumental activities of daily living was assessed by the Lawton and Brody scale, mood was assessed by the Geriatric Depression Scale and nutritional status was assessed by the Mini Nutritional Assessment. Results: The multivariate analysis showed that factors such as hospitalization in the previous year, diabetes and risk of malnutrition determined the negative self-perception of general health and current health status compared with 12 months ago. Needing assistance to perform AIDL significantly influenced self-perception of general health while income and vision problems interfered with older adults' perception of their current health status compared with 12 months ago. Conclusion: Older adults who needed oral prosthetic rehabilitation exhibited a predominantly negative self-perception of oral health.