Exposure to Famine in Early Childhood Increases the Odds of Edentulism in Adulthood: Results From the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study

BACKGROUND: This study examined the impact of early childhood exposure to China's 1959-1961 famine on the likelihood of adult edentulism. METHODS: We used data from 8209 adults surveyed in 2011-2012 China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study (CHARLS). Logistic regression was used to analyze the odds ratios (ORs) and confidence intervals (CIs) of early starvation and edentulism in adulthood. RESULTS: Compared with unexposed individuals, famine-exposed individuals had a significantly increased odds of edentulism. After adjustment for age, sex, location, severity, income, education, smoking, drinking, hypertension, dyslipidaemia, diabetes, and heart disease, the final ORs (95% CIs) were 2.097 (1.047, 4.355) for the foetal exposure group, 2.625 (1.245, 5.746) for the preschool group, and 3.907 (1.608, 9.726) for the school-age exposure group. CONCLUSIONS: Exposure to China's 1959-1961 famine during early childhood is associated with significantly increased odds of edentulism in adulthood, particularly among those exposed during school age (OR = 3.907; 95% CI: 1.608-9.726).