Analysis of moment structures for assessing relationships among perceived chewing ability, dentition status, muscle strength, and balance in community‐dwelling older adults

<jats:sec><jats:title>Objective</jats:title><jats:p>The aim of this study was to assess relationships among perceived chewing ability, dentition status, muscle strength and balance in community‐dwelling older adults using analysis of moment structures (Amos).</jats:p></jats:sec><jats:sec><jats:title>Background</jats:title><jats:p>Physical performance parameters such as muscle strength and balance can predict the future onset of disabilities in activities of daily living among older adults. In this context, elucidation of the relationships among oral conditions and physical performance parameters is necessary.</jats:p></jats:sec><jats:sec><jats:title>Materials and methods</jats:title><jats:p>Data on occlusal contact patterns of natural teeth (<jats:styled-content style="fixed-case">OPNT</jats:styled-content>), self‐assessed masticatory ability (mastication), body mass index (<jats:styled-content style="fixed-case">BMI</jats:styled-content>), handgrip strength (<jats:styled-content style="fixed-case">HG</jats:styled-content>) and one‐leg standing time with eyes open (<jats:styled-content style="fixed-case">OLST</jats:styled-content>) were collected from 501 independently living adults aged 65–74 years. The relationships among these parameters were analysed using Spearman's rank correlation coefficients and Amos.</jats:p></jats:sec><jats:sec><jats:title>Results</jats:title><jats:p>Subjects of both genders showed significant correlations among <jats:styled-content style="fixed-case">OPNT</jats:styled-content>, mastication, <jats:styled-content style="fixed-case">HG</jats:styled-content> and <jats:styled-content style="fixed-case">OLST</jats:styled-content>, evaluated using Spearman's rank correlation coefficients. For each Amos model, the goodness‐of‐fit statistic indicated a good level of fit. In both men and women, <jats:styled-content style="fixed-case">OPNT</jats:styled-content> was significantly related to mastication, and mastication was related to <jats:styled-content style="fixed-case">HG</jats:styled-content> but not to <jats:styled-content style="fixed-case">OLST</jats:styled-content>. <jats:styled-content style="fixed-case">OPNT</jats:styled-content> was related to neither <jats:styled-content style="fixed-case">HG</jats:styled-content> nor <jats:styled-content style="fixed-case">OLST</jats:styled-content> in women and was related to <jats:styled-content style="fixed-case">OLST</jats:styled-content> but not <jats:styled-content style="fixed-case">HG</jats:styled-content> in men.</jats:p></jats:sec><jats:sec><jats:title>Conclusion</jats:title><jats:p>The findings observed in this study present a possible importance of dental status and perceived chewing ability for the onset of disability by influencing physical performance in community‐dwelling older adults.</jats:p></jats:sec>