Applying oral panoramic radiography to health screening of the aging population: cross-sectional and longitudinal associations between adverse oral conditions and intrinsic capacity deficiency

BACKGROUND: Intrinsic capacity (IC) and oral health are crucial for healthy aging and are linked to future adverse health outcomes. Panoramic radiography provides comprehensive oral assessments and may have broader applications in health screening. However, the cross-sectional and longitudinal relationships between adverse oral conditions detected through panoramic radiographs and deficient IC remain insufficiently explored. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate these associations and explore the feasibility of panoramic radiography in primary health screening. METHODS: Data from the West China Health and Aging Trend study (2021-2024) were used. Adverse oral conditions (caries, residual roots, periodontitis, tooth loss, and functional impairments) were assessed by manual radiograph reading. IC levels were measured at each visit, encompassing locomotor, cognitive, psychological, vitality, and sensory functions. Cross-sectional analysis used logistic regression, and longitudinal analysis incorporated follow-up data via generalized estimating equations. RESULTS: Cross-sectional analysis showed that residual roots (odds ratio [OR] 2.28, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.09-4.78), severe periodontitis (2.17, 1.00-4.68), missing teeth (2.57, 1.23-5.38), and >16 functional tooth loss (2.65, 1.15-6.09) were linked to deficient IC (n = 235). Longitudinal analysis confirmed associations of residual roots (-0.21, -0.42-0.00) and >16 functional tooth loss (-0.38, -0.73 to -0.02) with IC decline. CONCLUSIONS: Adverse oral conditions were proved to have detrimental impact on IC among middle-aged and older adults, highlighting the potential of panoramic radiography as a valuable tool for early health screening in aging populations, as it may promote healthy aging and help mitigate health disparities.