Oral health and reduction in respiratory capacity in a cohort of community-dwelling elderly people: a population-based 5-year follow-up study

Objectives: Several anaerobic bacteria originating in periodontal pockets have been isolated from infected lungs and pharyngeal microflora. Increased bacterial load in lungs is known to be a risk factor for decline in forced expiratory volume during the first second. The aim was to evaluate both cross‐sectionally and longitudinally the association between oral health status and forced expiratory volume during the first second (FEV₁) in older residents of the city of Jyväskylä, Finland. Design: Cross‐sectional and prospective cohort study over a 5‐year follow‐up. Setting: Research laboratory of the University of Jyväskylä. Participants: In 1990 dental status and FEV₁ were examined in 203 80‐year‐old people, of whom 88 survivors were retested 5 years later. Main outcome measures: Primary: dental status and FEV₁. Secondary: existence of pulmonary diseases, height, handgrip strength, smoking, and length of education. Results: Participants were regrouped into three categories according to their baseline oral health status. At baseline, men with complete prostheses had the lowest FEV₁. Five years later the greatest reduction in FEV₁ was seen in subjects with poor periodontal status or complete prostheses (?9.4%) while those with healthy periodontal status showed no reduction in FEV₁ values (+1.0%, p = 0.006). Conclusions: Periodontal infections and complete prostheses may be reservoirs for pathogens which may be harmful and partly explain the observed reduction in FEV₁ during ageing.