구강건강 삶의 질 영향요인에 대한 도시와 농어촌 지역 간 비교

초록

The purpose of this study was to identify the factors influencing oral health-related quality of life (OHRQoL) among older adults without dementia and to examine whether these factors differ between urban and rural area through regression coefficient difference analysis. This cross-sectional study analyzed data from 5,867 older adults This cross-sectional study analyzed data from 5,867 middle aged and older adults without dementia from the 9th wave of the Korean Longitudinal Study of Aging (KLoSA). OHRQoL was measured using the Korean version of the Geriatric Oral Health Assessment Index. Multiple-group regression analysis was performed to compare influencing factors between urban and rural groups. The mean OHRQoL score was 39.9±7.8 out of 60, with no statistically significant difference between urban and rural groups. In both groups, older age and greater depressive symptoms were associated with lower OHRQoL, whereas better subjective health and a higher number of teeth were associated with higher OHRQoL. In rural areas, more frequent social interactions were positively associated with OHRQoL, while in urban areas, higher education, regular exercise, and alcohol consumption were associated with higher OHRQoL, and smoking was associated with lower OHRQoL. However, no significant differences in regression coefficients were observed between groups. These findings indicate that the structural factors influencing OHRQoL among older adults are largely consistent across urban and rural settings, with age, depressive symptoms, subjective health status, and number of remaining teeth emerging as common core predictors regardless of residence. The results suggest that nationwide integrated strategies are required to improve OHRQoL in middle aged and older adults, while region-specific tailored interventions may further enhance intervention effectiveness.

키워드