Hubungan Kehilangan Gigi Posterior terhadap Status Gizi Lansia di UPT Pelayanan Sosial Tresna Werdha Kabupaten Jember

Abstract

Background: Tooth loss is a common occurrence among the elderly. It is associated with changes in food choices and affects the nutritional status of the elderly. Poor nutritional status in the elderly may lead to poor health and increased risk of disease. This study aims to determine the relationship between posterior tooth loss and nutritional status in the elderly at UPT Pelayanan Sosial Tresna Werdha Jember Regency. Methods: This study employed analytical observational method with a cross sectional approach. Total 48 research subjects were examined according to the inclusion criteria, with posterior tooth loss, height and weight measurements, and interviews conducted. The data results were processed using IBM SPSS Statistics 25, with Spearman's nonparametric correlation test employed for analysis. Results: The Spearman correlation analysis test revealed a p-value of 0.159 (p > 0.05), which means that there is no significant relationship between posterior tooth loss and nutritional status in elderly individuals. This is due to the fact that elderly individuals whose nutritional intake is not affected despite the difficulty in chewing, the food menu adapted to the needs of the elderly, the eating habits prior to residing in an orphanage, and the daily activities of the elderly tend to exhibit a decrease in posterior tooth loss. Conclusion: The findings of this study indicate that there is no correlation between posterior tooth loss and the nutritional status of the elderly. In fact, the elderly with severe posterior tooth loss and normal nutritional status appear to be the most prevalent.