Dependence Levels and Oral Functionality in Older People

It has been suggested that an individual's overall functional capacity gradually declines with age. It has been reported that a decline in oral functionality increases the risk of sarcopenia and frailty, which contributes to the decrease in functional capacity. In Chile, the Preventive Medical Examination for Older Adults (EMPAM) is used to assess the functionality of that population; however, this examination does not include an evaluation of oral functionality. To address this gap, the Preventive Dental Examination for Older Adults (EDePAM) was developed to diagnose the most prevalent oral health conditions among older individuals and to provide treatments that maintain and restore oral functionality. To determine whether a correlation exists between the dependency levels assessed by EMPAM and the oral functionality levels evaluated in the EDePAM. This study presents the results of implementing, validating, and assess the economic impact of EDePAM in primary healthcare centers across Cerro Navia, Recoleta, Ñuñoa, and Los Vilos, Chile. Information regarding dependency levels was obtained from EMPAM, while oral hypofunction was assessed through evaluations of masticatory function, occlusal strength, tongue-lip motor function, and swallowing function. The correlation between the two diagnostic assessments was determined using the Kappa index. The study protocol was approved by the Health Service Ethics Committee. The sample consisted of 83 older individuals (66% female; mean age 71.3 ± 5.3 years). According to EMPAM, 83% were classified as non-risk independent, while 17% were categorized as independent at risk or dependent. EDePAM identified that 66.3% of the participants exhibited oral hypofunction. The correlation between the diagnosis of oral hypofunction and the classification of independent at risk/dependent was found to be 37.4%. EMPAM could be enhanced by incorporating an oral health assessment, resulting in a more comprehensive evaluation of the overall health status of older adults and a deeper understanding of their risk of losing independence.