Burden and Patterns of Oral Diseases and Systemic Comorbidities in Older Adults Attending Primary Care: A Sex- and Age-Stratified Analysis.

Background and

Objectives

Oral health is a key but often overlooked component of healthy aging and functional wellbeing in older adults. Population aging, multimorbidity, and social determinants of health interact in order to shape oral disease patterns, particularly in primary care settings. Understanding age- and sex-specific distributions of oral diseases is essential for informing integrated public health strategies aimed at promoting healthy aging. Materials and

Methods

We conducted a cross-sectional population-based analysis using the SIMEF primary care database, including 7386 adults aged 60 years and older, who were attended between January and December 2022. Oral diseases were identified using ICD-10 codes K00-K14. Prevalence estimates were calculated by life decade and sex. Associations were assessed using chi-square tests and sex-stratified analyses.

Results

The overall prevalence of oral diseases was 5.2%, with a significant and progressive decline across age groups, from 6.5% in sexagenarians to 1.6% in nonagenarians (p < 0.001). The most prevalent conditions were disorders of teeth and supporting structures (2.6%, 95% confidence interval [95% CI] 2.3-3.0), dentofacial anomalies (2.2%, 95% CI 1.8-2.5), and dental caries (1.7%, 95% CI 1.4-2.0). Women showed a slightly higher prevalence of selected oral and mucosal conditions. Among older adults with oral diseases (n = 384), the most frequent comorbidities were hypertension (40.4% 95% CI 35.7-45.3), type 2 diabetes (29.2% 95% CI 24.7-33.8), and dyslipidemia (21.1% 95% CI 17.2-25.3), with marked sex-specific differences in endocrine, urinary, musculoskeletal, and mental health conditions.

Conclusions

Oral disease burden in older adults decreases with advancing age but remains strongly linked to cardiometabolic and systemic comorbidities, reflecting shared risk factors relevant to healthy aging. The observed age- and sex-specific patterns underscore the need to integrate oral health into primary care and public health policies targeting aging populations, supporting comprehensive and equitable strategies for healthy longevity.