Abstract
ObjectiveTo know the prevalence and etiology of oral and maxillofacial trauma in elders.MethodsAnalytical quantitative cross-sectional study conducted at a public trauma hospital located in Fortaleza-Ceará, Brazil. The study population comprised patients with trauma who were hospitalized from April to August 2014. Of these patients, patients with oral and maxillofacial trauma were chosen to be included in the research. A questionnaire was administered in order to obtain information on socio-demographics, systemic comorbidities, use of medication, deleterious habits (smoking and alcohol consumption), etiology of oral and maxillofacial trauma and type of pre-hospital care.ResultsOf the 280 elderly hospitalized with trauma, 47 had oral and maxillofacial trauma, with a prevalence of 16.8%. In this group, the age ranged from 60 to 88 years, with a mean age of 72.4 years (SD± 8.38). The elderly were mostly women (55.3%), self-declared pardos (53.2%), who presented with cardiovascular disorders (48.9%), and who received formal pre-hospital care (70.2%). Elderly who were in the 60–69 years age group, spent 6–9 years at school and drank alcohol were 2.64, 3.75, and 1.97, respectively, more likely to suffer oral and maxillofacial trauma. The main causes of trauma were physical aggression, traffic accidents, falls and domestic accidents. All of the physical aggressions resulted in oral and maxillofacial traumas, and the elderly who suffered traffic accidents were four times more likely to have oral and maxillofacial trauma.ConclusionThe prevalence of 16.8% and the lack of research on oral and maxillofacial traumas in the elderly is worrisome and should be included in the oral health indicators for the elderly population to support the importance of oral health.
Highlights
The proportion of elderly worldwide is changing the distribution and shape population pyramid and bringing new social and economic concerns
Of the 280 elderly hospitalized with trauma, 47 had oral and maxillofacial trauma, with a prevalence of 16.8%
Who were in the 60–69 years age group, spent 6–9 years at school and drank alcohol were 2.64, 3.75, and 1.97, respectively, more likely to suffer oral and maxillofacial trauma
Summary
The proportion of elderly worldwide is changing the distribution and shape population pyramid and bringing new social and economic concerns. This population is projected to reach two billion by 2050, with 80% in developing countries [1]. As one of these countries, Brazil’s demographic pattern has been undergoing deep changes due to mortality and fertility declines, leading to an increase in the life expectancy of Brazilians to 74.6 years in 2012 [2]. Older adults are more vulnerable because aging at the cellular level reflects anatomic and functional changes, which are influenced by associated diseases and the chronic use of medications [5]
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