Prevalence and correlates of oral health problems among a nationally representative sample of older adults in India, 2017-2018

Abstract

This study aimed to determine the prevalence and correlates of self-reported oral health problems in older adults in India. The cross-sectional sample consisted of 52,393 individuals (≥50 years) from the Longitudinal Ageing Study in India (LASI) Wave 1 in 2017-2018. Oral health problems were assessed by self-report. Results indicate that the prevalence of past 12-month 1 and 2-7 oral health problems were 19.7% and 30.1%, respectively. In adjusted multinomial logistic regression analysis, older age (60-69 years), diabetes, angina and poor or fair self-rated health status were positively associated with 2-7 oral health problems in the past 12 months, while male sex, and higher education (≥10 years) were negatively associated with 2-7 oral health problems in the past 12 months. In addition, lifetime alcohol use was associated with one oral health problem in the past 12 months. One in two older adults in India had at least one oral health problem in the past 12 months. Several risk factors were identified, which can be targeted in public health interventions.