[Factors associated with oral frailty among community-dwelling older people -A comparison between those <75 and ≥75...

This study investigated the factors associated with oral frailty among community-dwelling older adults. In particular, we compared the factors between individuals in the young-old and old-old groups and clarified the differences between the two groups.

We measured the basic attributes, body composition, grip strength, gait function, oral function, cognitive function, and daily living function using the Kihon checklist in older people living independently in T City, Aichi Prefecture. The risk of oral frailty was assessed using the Oral Frailty Screening and Evaluation Form (OFI-8), and the measurement results were compared between two groups: those with and those without risk. To identify the factors associated with oral frailty, we performed a multivariate analysis with the risk of oral frailty as the dependent variable and a univariate analysis separately for the young-old and old-old groups.

The mean age of the 100 subjects was 76.6±4.6 years old. Forty-four subjects were at risk of oral frailty, and 55 subjects were not at risk. The high-risk group had significantly higher rates of polypharmacy, depression, and a slow walking speed than the no-risk group. The risk factors associated with oral frailty were living alone, polypharmacy, and depression. The risk factors for oral frailty were a poor ambulatory function in the young-old and a poor ambulatory function, decline in the cognitive function, and depression in the old-old.

The results of this study suggest that the risk factors for oral frailty differ between older individuals in the young-old and old-old groups and that age-appropriate support is necessary to prevent oral frailty in older people.