From:  Effects of polypharmacy on sensory, oral, and dietary functions in older adults

 Differences in oral function and dietary intake by polypharmacy status.

VariablesCategories0–4 drugs
N (%)
≥ 5 drugs
N (%)
*p
Difficulty in chewingNone6,611 (69.9)206 (41.1)< 0.001
Present2,844 (30.1)295 (58.9)
Use of dentures No7,294 (76.4)265 (50.0)< 0.001
Yes2,255 (23.6)265 (50.0)
Difficulty in eating or swallowingNone8,908 (93.3)419 (79.1)< 0.001
Present640 (6.7)111 (20.9)
Unmet dental care needsNo9,167 (97.0)453 (90.4)< 0.001
Yes287 (3.0)48 (9.6)
Eating fewer than two meals per dayNo9,238 (96.7)491 (92.6)< 0.001
Yes311 (3.3)39 (7.4)
Non-consumption of fruitsNo8,653 (90.6)450 (84.9)< 0.001
Yes896 (9.4)80 (15.1)
Non-consumption of vegetablesNo9,204 (96.4)494 (93.2)< 0.001
Yes345 (3.6)36 (6.8)

*p-values were calculated using the chi-square test. Because of variable-specific missing data and weighting, the total N and weighted percentages may vary across variables.