MIL OSI – Source: New Zealand Ministry of Health – Press Release/Statement
Headline: Oral Health in Advanced Age: Findings from LiLACS NZ
Oral Health in Advanced Age: Findings from LiLACS NZ presents key findings about the oral health of Māori (aged 80 to 90 years) and non-Māori (aged 85 years).
The findings are from a population-based sample of people in advanced age living in the Bay of Plenty, who are taking part in a longitudinal study of advanced ageing, called Life and Living in Advanced Age: a Cohort Study in New Zealand – Te Puā waitanga O Ngā Tapuwae Kia Ora Tonu (LiLACS NZ).
The report is available on the LiLACS NZ publications website
Overview of key findings
- Three-quarters (76%) of people of advanced age wore full or partial dentures. Significantly, more women than men wore dentures.
- Maori living in socioeconomically deprived areas were less likely to wear dentures than non-Māori living in socioeconomically deprived areas.
- Twenty-four percent of people of advanced age reported having difficulty chewing; the most common reasons were poorly fitting dentures and missing teeth.
- Less than a third of people of advanced age had visited a dentist in the previous 12 months. Māori were significantly less likely to have visited a dentist (18%) than non-Māori (34%). People without dentures were more likely to have visited the dentist than those with dentures in the previous 12 months.
What is the LiLACS NZ research programme?
LiLACS NZ is a longitudinal cohort study of 937 people of advanced age in the Bay of Plenty and Lakes District Health Boards. It is led by Professor Ngaire Kerse and Dr Lorna Dyall from The University of Auckland. It began in 2010.
The 421 Māori participants were aged 80–90 years and the 516 non-Māori participants were aged 85 years when the research began in 2010. One of the strengths of the research is that the Māori sample is of sufficient size to have equal explanatory power; that is, the results for the Māori sample are robust.
What are the aims of the LiLACS research programme?
LiLACS NZ will considerably increase the evidence base on people of advanced age. The aims of the research are to:
- describe the health status of Māori and non-Māori of advanced age
- explore the different health and other age-related and amenable factors that impact on the health status of people of advanced age
- explore the factors that can assist people of advanced age to maintain their independence
- explore how health and social services can ameliorate the health problems of age
- provide information for people on how they maintain their health and wellbeing and independence in advanced age.
How many New Zealanders of advanced age are there?
In 2013 there were approximately 154,300 people aged 80 years and above and 2.8% were Māori.
Statistics New Zealand has estimated that between 2011 and 2026 the population of Māori aged 80 and above will grow from 4400 to 11,700. This is an increase of 166% for Māori compared to a 40% increase for non-Māori.
For more information
Information about findings in this report and LILACS NZ is on the LiLACS NZ website.
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