Diabetes Linked to Increased Oral Health Risks in Elderly: LASI Survey Findings

Using data from Wave-1 of the Longitudinal Ageing Study in India (LASI) - a large-scale population-based study - we explored the association between diabetes and oral health decline in adults aged 45 and older, who are a vulnerable group. Using cross-sectional data representing nationally from 65,562 adults aged 45 years and older, this analysis included adult population survey data from the LASI 2017-2018 Wave-1, a national cross-sectional survey of vital information about health and aging in India.

The researchers used bivariate cross-tabulations to estimate the prevalence of oral health conditions and then used chi-square tests to identify differences in the prevalence between diabetic and non-diabetic population groups. An estimator of the independent effect of diabetes on oral health outcomes was developed using a series of multivariate logistic regression models controlling for age, sex, urban or rural residence, level of education, and level of wealth as potential confounding variables.

Key Findings

• Dental Caries: Older adults with diabetes had a prevalence of dental caries of 20.43% while the prevalence for older adults without diabetes was 18.62%.

• Adjusted Odds Ratio (AOR): Diabetics had an 18% higher chance of dental caries (AOR: 1.18, p < 0.001).

• Periodontal Disease: The bivariate comparison demonstrated no significant differences, but after a multivariate analysis diabetic older adults had 10% higher risk of periodontal disease (AOR: 1.10, p = 0.008).

• Gender & Residence: Female and urban older adults have a higher likelihood of experiencing dental caries whereas rural older adults had a higher likelihood of periodontal disease.

• Socioeconomic Factors: Older adults with lower levels of education, and in the higher wealth quintiles had a greater burden of both dental and periodontal disease.

Population-specific and culturally appropriate programs that integrate oral health services with general health services need to be developed, including mobile dental clinics in rural areas; subsidies for oral care costs for disadvantaged sectors of the population; and providing oral health education as part of diabetes counseling sessions. Health workers should also be educated on recognizing the early signs of oral complications in diabetic patients, to assist with prevention of complications or progression.

The findings of this study indicate that diabetes has a considerable impact on the risk of conclusion that diabetes has a significant impact on the risk of developing dental caries, on developing periodontal disease, and that the need for specific oral healthcare interventions for diabetic populations, that are comprehensive, accessible and targeted. However, integrating oral health into diabetes care will be especially important for women's health, rural women and men, and individuals with low levels of education for addressing the broader public health issues related to population aging in India.

Reference

Shaw, S., Khan, J. Risk of dental caries and periodontal disease among older adults and elderly persons with diabetes in India: a population-based cross-sectional study. BMC Oral Health 25, 737 (2025). https://doi.org/10.1186/s12903-025-06067-2