Associations between self-reported masticatory dysfunction and frailty: A systematic review and meta-analysis

Area of Science:

• Gerontology
• Oral Health
• Public Health

Background:

• Oral health is integral to overall health, well-being, and quality of life.
• Mastication, a key oral function, can decline with age.
• Existing research on masticatory dysfunction and frailty is limited and inconsistent.

Purpose of the Study:

• To systematically review and meta-analyze the association between self-reported masticatory dysfunction and frailty risk in older adults.
• To synthesize current evidence on the link between chewing ability and the likelihood of being frail.

Main Methods:

• A systematic literature search was conducted in PubMed, CINAHL, and AMED following PRISMA 2020 guidelines.
• Studies published from 2000 onwards examining self-reported masticatory dysfunction and frailty risk were included.
• A fixed-effects meta-analysis was performed on 4 cross-sectional studies (7425 participants) to calculate pooled odds ratios.

Main Results:

• The meta-analysis revealed a significant association between self-reported masticatory dysfunction and increased frailty risk (pooled OR = 1.83, 95%CI = 1.55-2.18).
• No evidence of publication bias was detected.
• The findings indicate that individuals reporting chewing difficulties are nearly twice as likely to be frail.

Conclusions:

• Community-dwelling older adults with masticatory dysfunction have a significantly higher risk of frailty.
• Limitations include reliance on self-reported data, cross-sectional study designs, and a small number of included studies.
• Further longitudinal research is recommended to explore causal relationships and underlying mechanisms.