Risk of sarcopenia in edentulous individuals

Edentulism could be a risk factor for sarcopenia.

In a study published in BMC Oral Health, investigators analyzed the outcomes of nearly 17,100 individuals who participated in the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study.

The investigators found that edentulism raised the risk of sarcopenia. The association was stronger when considering metabolic and inflammatory factors. The risk of incident sarcopenia among edentulous individuals was greater in those who were male, resided in rural areas, lived in western regions, had a lower level of educational attainment and didn’t smoke or consume alcohol.

As a result of the findings, the investigators stressed the need to integrate oral health screenings into geriatric care. Identifying high-risk patients could help mitigate the risk of sarcopenia.

Read more: BMC Oral Health

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