Association of Sociodemographic Factors and Self-perception of Health Status on Oral Health-related Quality of Life Among the Older Persons in Malaysia

Aim: This study aimed to evaluate the oral health-related quality of life (OHRQoL) among older persons in Malaysia and its associations with sociodemographic and self-perception towards general health as well as oral health.

Methods: A cross-sectional survey among community dwelling older persons utilizing stratified cluster sampling was conducted in 2018. Well-trained interviewers conducted a face-to-face interview with older persons aged ≥60 years to collect information on participants' sociodemographic characteristics, self-perception on general as well as oral health using the Geriatric Oral Health Assessment Index (GOHAI). Multivariate analysis of the data collected was performed using SPSS version 23.

Results: Overall, the GOHAI mean ± SD score for older persons in Malaysia was 51.83 ± 7.98, which was an average of fair mean (P < 0.001). Those with poor self-rated oral health (48.34 ± 8.96) or poor self-rated general health (47.13 ± 8.93) had poor mean OHRQoL (P < 0.001). Logistic regression analysis shows older persons who stay with spouse/partner (adjusted odds ratio [aOR]: 1.96 [1.66, 2.31]), no formal education (aOR: 1.84 [1.29, 2.61]) and self-perceived unhealthy oral health (aOR: 3.83 [3.19, 4.59]) were significantly associated with higher odds of having poor OHRQoL.

Conclusions: The estimated OHRQoL of older persons in Malaysia is rated as fair, with minimum association contributed by the sociodemographic factors, but with a significant influence by self-rated oral and general health. Self-perception of health can be used as a good indicator to estimate the OHRQoL. Geriatr Gerontol Int 2020; 20: 57-62.