Objective: In light of COVID-19, elderly residents with chronic disease decreasing access to oral health services. It is noteworthy that Alzheimer's disease (AD), diabetes mellitus (DM), and coronary artery disease (CAD) were significantly associated with dental caries and periodontal disease in recent studies. The objective of this study was to assess and compare the oral health status of the Chinese elderly with AD, DM, and CAD. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted among individuals diagnosed with AD (n=60), CAD (n=57), DM (n=57) and control group (n=63) matched for age, sex, and education. The participants’ demographic information, oral health behavior, perceived stress (PS) as well as the geriatric oral health assessment index (GOHAI) were obtained through a questionnaire survey. Oral hygiene, dental caries, and periodontal status were measured using the Plaque Index (PLI), Decayed, Missing, and Filled Teeth (DMFT) Index, Gingival Bleeding (GB), Periodontal Pocket (PP), Loss of periodontal clinical attachment loss (CAL), respectively. t-test, variance analysis, and linear stepwise regression were performed to explore differences in oral health index between groups ? predictors, and their relationships with GOHAI. Results: Oral health behavior, PS, GOHAI, DMFT, PLI, and CAL were significantly different among the four groups; these parameters were poorer in the AD group than in the control group, DM and/or CAD; PS, DMFT, PP, and participants with DM and AD were directly associated with GOHAI. Conclusion: Individuals with AD suffered more serious psychological, health behavioral, and oral problems compared with other chronic diseases. Our findings suggest that targeted managing mood state, caries and teeth loss, periodontal treatment may be valuable for oral health-related quality of life in the elderly with chronic disease. 

Bing Yang completed her Ph.D. at the age of 29 years from Chongqing Medical University, China. She is the associated professor at the Stomatological Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, China. She has over 20 publications that focus on dementia and dental care. She has been serving as a reviewer of several journals.