Self-Reported Sensory Decline in Older Adults Is Longitudinally Associated With Both Modality-General and Modality-Specific Factors

The evaluation of clinical factors affecting oral health impacts on the quality of life of Iranian elderly patients visiting dental clinics: A cross-sectional study

BACKGROUND

Iran will soon have an aging population. Healthcare providers must consider factors affecting the quality of life for those 60 and older. Understanding oral health as one of these factors can improve the elderly's quality of life. Oral health-related quality of life (OHRQoL) is a crucial reflection of individuals' general well-being and their overall quality of life linked to health. This study aimed to evaluate the OHRQoL among elderly Iranians referring to Azad University of Medical Sciences in Tehran.

METHODS

In this cross-sectional study, 171 individuals over 65 (93 men and 78 women) were evaluated using OHIP-14 and GOHAI-12 questionnaires to analyze their quality of life. Gender, age, systemic diseases, using medications and dentures, the number of remaining teeth, and oral lesions were recorded. Salivary flow and xerostomia were analyzed with the spitting method and xerostomia index questionnaire, respectively. Also, four main flavor solutions were used to evaluate the taste perception. Data were analyzed using PASS11 and p value < .05 was the significance level.

RESULTS

Based on OHIP-14 and GOHAI-12, Iranian older people's quality of life can be affected by cardiovascular diseases, hypertension, xerostomia, and the number of remaining teeth (p < .05). The results also showed a significant correlation between the OHIP-14 and GOHAI-12 scores (p < .001). Both indexes revealed that the number of remaining teeth, xerostomia, salivary flow, and taste perception greatly influenced participants' quality of life. More remaining teeth, improved salivary flow, and better perception of sweetness and sourness were all linked to a higher quality of life, while increased xerostomia, reduced salivary flow, and bitter taste perception were linked to a decline in overall well-being. Cardiovascular diseases, hypertension, and medication use were also found to significantly impact quality of life.

CONCLUSION

This study's results indicate that cardiovascular diseases, hypertension, dry mouth, and tooth loss can negatively impact the elderly's quality of life. So, improving both systemic and oral health is vital for enhancing life quality in this age group.

Relationship between tinnitus and olfactory dysfunction: audiovisual, olfactory, and medical examinations

Introduction

Sensory dysfunctions and cognitive impairments are related to each other. Although a relationship between tinnitus and subjective olfactory dysfunction has been reported, there have been no reports investigating the relationship between tinnitus and olfactory test results.

Methods

To investigate the relationship between tinnitus and olfactory test results, we conducted sensory tests, including hearing and visual examinations. The subjects included 510 community-dwelling individuals (295 women and 215 men) who attended a health checkup in Yakumo, Japan. The age of the subjects ranged from 40 to 91 years (mean ± standard deviation, 63.8 ± 9.9 years). The participants completed a self-reported questionnaire on subjective tinnitus, olfactory function, and hearing function, as well as their lifestyle. The health checkup included smell, hearing, vision, and blood examinations.

Results

After adjusting for age and sex, the presence of tinnitus was significantly associated with subjective olfactory dysfunction, poor olfactory test results, hearing deterioration, vertigo, and headache. Additionally, high serum calcium levels and a low albumin/globulin ratio were significantly associated with low physical activity and nutrition. Women scored higher than men in olfactory and hearing examinations, but there was no gender difference in vision examinations.

Conclusion

Subjective smell dysfunction and poor smell test results were significantly associated with tinnitus complaints. Hearing and vision were associated even after adjusting for age and sex. These findings suggest that evaluating the mutual relationships among sensory organs is important when evaluating the influence of sensory dysfunctions on cognitive function.