Accessible transportation, geographic elevation, and masticatory ability among elderly residents of a rural area

摘要: Given that public transportation networks are often worse in rural areas than urban areas, residents who do not drive can find it difficult to access health-promoting goods, services, and resources related masticatory ability. Moreover, geographical location, assessed by elevation, could modify this association. The aim of study was test whether the association between ability varied elevation. Data were collected from a cross-sectional conducted Mizuho Iwami counties, Japan. Objective evaluated using gummy jelly elevation estimated geographic information systems according participant's address. After excluding subjects with missing data, 672 (Mizuho = 401 271) analyzed. adjustment for potential confounders, being driver significantly associated among elderly people living at low (≤313 m) county. However, after same adjustment, remained increased high elevations. Similar findings observed Accessible mastication elevations, but those