SATISFACTION WITH DIETARY LIFE AFFECTS SUBJECTIVE WELL-BEING IN VERY ELDERLY PEOPLE

Abstract

Age-related deterioration in physical condition and oral health in very elderly people are important problems that decrease healthy life expectancy. We investigated the effects of satisfaction with dietary life (SDL) in everyday life on subjective well-being in very old individuals. We evaluated 426 elderly individuals aged 85 years or older. All participants completed a questionnaire and oral, physical, and mental health examinations. The comprehensive oral health assessment consisted of a face-to-face interview, including a questionnaire about SDL and subjective well-being. The relationship between the results of the questionnaire about SDL and subjective well-being were confirmed using a multiple logistic regression analysis. In the multivariate model adjusted for age, gender, drinking status, BMI, cognitive function, disability, physical performance, and comorbidity, participants who answered “enjoyable” with regard to SDL had a significantly lower risk for getting the lowest scores on the PGC and WHO-5 (OR = 0.589, 95% CI = 0.348–0.996; OR = 0.452, 95% CI = 0.263–0.775, respectively). After further adjustment for number of teeth present, the association was generally maintained. SDL was significantly associated with subjective well-being, even after adjusting for potential confounders, such as age, drinking habits, cognitive function, physical fitness, presence of disease, and loss of teeth. Based on these results, dental professionals must contribute to the lives of very elderly individuals in order to maintain oral function.