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  • Special Issue: Current evidence and perspectives for hypertension management in Asia
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Reduced masticatory performance and not using dentures are associated with hypertension in older adults with tooth loss: the Shimane CoHRE study

Hypertension Research volume 45, pages 1553–1562 (2022)Cite this article

Abstract

The relationship between masticatory performance and hypertension has seldom been studied. The association between hypertension and tooth loss with/without denture use is unclear. This cross-sectional study examined the relationship between hypertension and masticatory performance and whether the relationship between hypertension and the number of teeth varied with denture use among older Japanese adults. Hypertension was defined as a systolic or diastolic blood pressure ≥140 or ≥90 mm Hg, respectively, or the use of antihypertensive medications. Masticatory performance was assessed using a chewable gummy jelly. The number of teeth and denture use were visually assessed by a trained dental hygienist. Poisson regression analyses were carried out to estimate the prevalence ratio and 95% confidence interval (CI) of hypertension with the number of teeth (≥28, 20–27, or 0–19 teeth), quartiles of masticatory performance (Q1: highest [reference] to Q4: lowest), and tooth loss with/without denture use. Hypertension was significantly associated with masticatory performance in participants in Q3 (prevalence ratio = 1.35; 95% CI = 1.07, 1.72) and Q4 (prevalence ratio = 1.31; 95% CI = 1.01, 1.69). There was no association between tooth loss and hypertension. Compared to participants with >28 teeth, the prevalence ratios and 95% CIs of those without dentures and those with 20–27 teeth were 1.33 (95% CI = 1.06, 1.68) and 1.69 (95% CI = 1.21, 2.37), respectively, in those with 0–19 teeth. Masticatory performance was inversely associated with hypertension, and tooth loss without the use of dentures was related to hypertension. Therefore, masticatory function may be important for preventing hypertension among older adults.

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Acknowledgements

The authors greatly appreciate the cooperation of the study participants and the Shimane CoHRE study members for their skilled assistance. This study was supported by the Japan Society for the Promotion of Science KAKENHI (Grant numbers 18K11143, 19K11741, and 19H03996).

Funding

This study was supported by the Japan Society for the Promotion of Science KAKENHI (grant numbers 18K11143, 19K11741, and 19H03996).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Center for Community-Based Healthcare Research and Education (CoHRE), Head Office for Research and Academic Information, Shimane University, Shimane, Japan

    Takafumi Abe, Kazumichi Tominaga, Tsuyoshi Hamano, Shozo Yano, Minoru Isomura & Toru Nabika

  2. Tominaga Dental Office, Shimane, Japan

    Kazumichi Tominaga

  3. Department of Health Promotion, National Institute of Public Health, Saitama, Japan

    Yuichi Ando

  4. Department of Sports Sociology and Health Sciences, Faculty of Sociology, Kyoto Sangyo University, Kyoto, Japan

    Tsuyoshi Hamano

  5. Department of Laboratory Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Shimane University, Shimane, Japan

    Shozo Yano

  6. Faculty of Human Sciences, Shimane University, Shimane, Japan

    Minoru Isomura

  7. Department of Functional Pathology, Faculty of Medicine, Shimane University, Shimane, Japan

    Toru Nabika

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  1. Takafumi Abe
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  2. Kazumichi Tominaga
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Correspondence to Takafumi Abe.

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Abe, T., Tominaga, K., Ando, Y. et al. Reduced masticatory performance and not using dentures are associated with hypertension in older adults with tooth loss: the Shimane CoHRE study. Hypertens Res 45, 1553–1562 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41440-022-00976-3

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