健康な高齢者における定期的な歯科検診の受診に関連する因子

Factors Associated with Undergoing Regular Dental Check-ups in Healthy Elderly Individuals.

抄録

本研究の目的は、定期的な歯科検診を受けている健康な高齢者の分布を明らかにし、口腔内の環境要因や関連要因を特定することである。2つの高齢者福祉施設に通う216人を対象に横断的質問紙調査を行い、そのうち160人を最終的な分析対象とした。項目は、年齢、性別、残存歯数、歯・義歯の清掃頻度、自覚的咀嚼能力、義歯の使用状況、口腔状態、定期的な歯科検診、同一歯科医の受診、過去1年間の歯科受診回数、GOHAI（General Oral Health Assessment Index）（日本語版）スコア、生活状況、定期的な薬の使用状況であった。定期歯科健診受診者は、年に1回以上歯科健診を受診する歯科医師がいる人と定義した。定期歯科検診受診率は、男性60～74歳75.0％、女性60～74歳58.8％、男性75歳以上70.0％、女性75歳以上45.3％であった。ロジスティック回帰分析の結果、定期的な歯科検診の受診と有意に相関する因子として、残存歯数の多さ（オッズ比[OR]=2.664、20本未満と比較、p=0.0427）、1日3回以上の歯・入れ歯の清掃（OR=2.546、1日2回以下と比較、p=0.0157）、GOHAIスコアの高さ（OR=2.742、GOHAIスコア58未満と比較、p=0.0263）が明らかになった。以上の結果より、定期歯科検診受診者は、残存歯数が20本以上、1日3回以上歯・義歯を清掃しており、GOHAIスコアが高いことが明らかになった。このことから、健康な高齢者の歯科定期検診受診の予測因子はGOHAIスコアであることが示された。

The purpose of this study was to determine the distribution of healthy elderly individuals undergoing regular dental check-ups and identify any environmental or associated oral factors. A cross-sectional questionnaire survey was used to interview 216 individuals attending 2 welfare facilities for the elderly, of whom 160 were included in the final analysis. Items comprised age, sex, number of residual teeth, frequency of teeth/denture cleaning, subjective chewing ability, denture use, oral status, regular dental check-ups, visitation of the same dentist, number of dental visits in the past year, General Oral Health Assessment Index (GOHAI) (Japanese version) score, living situation, and use of routine medication. Individuals undergoing regular dental check-ups were defined as those with a primary dentist whom they saw for dental check-ups at least once a year. The rate of individuals undergoing regular dental check-ups was 75.0% in men aged 60-74 years, 58.8% in women aged 60-74 years, 70.0% in men aged 75 years or over, and 45.3% in women aged 75 years or over. Logistic regression analysis revealed a higher number of residual teeth (odds ratio [OR]=2.664 in comparison with those with fewer than 20 teeth, p=0.0427); cleaning teeth/dentures 3 or more times per day (OR=2.546 in comparison with cleaning them twice per day or less, p=0.0157); and a higher GOHAI score (OR=2.742 in comparison with those with a GOHAI score of less than 58, p=0.0263) as factors significantly correlated with undergoing regular dental check-ups. In conclusion, the results revealed that individuals undergoing regular dental check-ups had 20 or more residual teeth, cleaned their teeth/denture 3 or more times per day, and had a higher GOHAI score. This indicates that the best predictive factor for undergoing regular dental check-ups in healthy elderly individuals is their GOHAI score.