The association between loneliness and Oral health among older adults In England. Secondary data analysis of the English Longitudinal Study of Ageing (2018-2019)

Abstract

Background: Population aging is a global phenomenon, accompanied by increasing rates of oral diseases and loneliness among older adults. These two issues have significant impacts on individuals' quality of life. While the relationship between loneliness and various health outcomes is well-established, the connection between loneliness and oral health has been less explored. Aim: The aim of this research was to investigate the association between loneliness and subjective measures of oral health, including OHRQoL and SROH, among older people living in England using cross-sectional data from ELSA. Methods: Secondary analysis was conducted using data from ELSA Wave 9. The study population consisted of adults aged 50 and above, with oral health outcomes measured through OIDP and SROH, and loneliness assessed using a three-item UCLA scale. After controlling for socioeconomic, behavioral, and health-related variables, the relationship between oral health outcomes and loneliness was examined using logistic regression models. Results: The study found a significant association between loneliness and poorer oral health outcomes. Those who reported feeling lonely were more likely to experience at least one impact on daily performance due to oral health problems and were more likely to rate their oral health as fair or poor. These associations remained significant after adjusting for factors such as gender, age, cohabitation ,status, wealth, and smoking. Conclusion: Loneliness is associated with poorer oral health among older adults. Addressing loneliness could improve oral health and overall well-being, suggesting a need for integrated public health interventions that target both social and health-related factors in aging populations.