Cooking With Solid Fuel And Edentulism: A Cross-Sectional Analysis

Many studies link solid fuel use to systemic diseases, but few explore its connection to edentulism. We investigated the link between domestic fuel type and edentulism in Chinese adults aged ≥45 using China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study (CHARLS) data. This study used 2011 CHARLS data, defining edentulism and solid fuel use via self-report. Multivariable logistic regression and subgroup analysis explored their relationship. We also tested age's mediating role in solid fuel use and edentulism among middle-aged and older Chinese adults. This study examined 12,865 participants to explore the link between solid fuel use and health outcomes. Baseline data indicated that solid fuel users were more likely to be from agricultural households, have lower education, be widowed, smoke, drink excessively, suffer from sleeplessness and depression, and experience edentulism. They had lower rates of hypertension and diabetes compared to cleaner fuel users. The logistic regression model showed a 14% reduction in edentulism among cleaner fuel users (OR=0.86, 95% CI: 0.75-0.99, P=0.046). Subgroup analysis confirmed the correlation, with age mediating the relationship, especially in middle-aged and older adults (95% bootstrap CI: 0.014-0.026). Using cleaner fuel for cooking, compared to solid fuels, reduces the risk of edentulism. Age mediates this relationship in older adults.