Epidemiological data regarding the evolution of problems related to mastication and swallowing with age are lacking. This study aims to (i) describe changes in oral function with age, using data from a large French population, (ii) validate online, self-report uses of an ICF questionnaire in older persons, and (iii) assess whether impairment is related to avoidance of certain foods, xerostomia, body mass index (BMI) and oral health related quality of life (OHRQoL). Volunteers aged ≥18 years with internet access completed a series of questionnaires on sociodemographic, anthropometric and oral health characteristics (oral function, Xerostomia Index (XI), OHRQoL, reasons for avoidance of certain food). Oral function was assessed using items derived from the International Classification of Functioning (ICF). Five ICF items related to ingestion function and six items related to activities and participation were used. A validation study was undertaken to identify those with poor chewing ability and low salivary flow amongst older participants reporting impairment. 39 597 individuals were included. The prevalence of individuals with impairment for ICF items related to ingestion function and oral activity (eating, drinking and speaking), and the percentage of participants with poor OHRQoL increased significantly with age (p < 0.001). Each ICF item was significantly associated with OHRQoL (p < 0.001), XI (p < 0.001), BMI (p < 0.001) and avoidance of certain food due to chewing or swallowing difficulties. Overall, 21.5% and 13.5% of the study population had chewing and/or biting impairments respectively, which might affect food selection and consumption. These findings raise individual and population-based issues. Further studies are needed to assess whether impairment in oral function might increase frailty in older individuals, and also to compare data with those from other countries.

中文翻译：

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大量人群样本中与年龄相关的摄入障碍

缺乏有关咀嚼和吞咽相关问题随年龄变化的流行病学数据。本研究旨在 (i) 使用大量法国人口的数据描述口腔功能随年龄的变化，(ii) 在线验证老年人 ICF 问卷的自我报告使用情况，以及 (iii) 评估损伤是否相关避免某些食物、口干症、体重指数 (BMI) 和口腔健康相关的生活质量 (OHRQoL)。年龄≥18岁并能上网的志愿者完成了一系列关于社会人口统计学、人体测量学和口腔健康特征（口腔功能、口干指数（XI）、OHRQoL、避免某些食物的原因）的调查问卷。使用国际功能分类（ICF）衍生的项目评估口腔功能。使用了五个与摄取功能相关的 ICF 项目和六个与活动和参与相关的项目。进行了一项验证研究，以确定报告有障碍的老年参与者中咀嚼能力差和唾液流量低的人。包括 39 597 人。与摄入功能和口腔活动（吃、喝和说话）相关的 ICF 项目受损的个体患病率，以及 OHRQoL 较差的参与者的百分比随着年龄的增长而显着增加（p < 0.001）。每个 ICF 项目均与 OHRQoL (p < 0.001)、XI (p < 0.001)、BMI (p < 0.001) 以及由于咀嚼或吞咽困难而避免某些食物显着相关。总体而言，21.5% 和 13.5% 的研究人群分别有咀嚼和/或咬合障碍，这可能会影响食物的选择和消费。这些发现提出了个人和人口问题。需要进一步的研究来评估口腔功能损伤是否会增加老年人的虚弱程度，并与其他国家的数据进行比较。