Association Between Oral Health and Physical Frailty in an Adult Community-Dwelling Caucasian Population

Although oral diseases and frailty can be met earlier in life, there is limited information on their association across the lifespan.

To scope for the association of oral factors with physical frailty in Greek community-dwelling adults.

Participants were over 18 years of age with ≥ 20 natural teeth, ≥ 10 occlusal contacts, and no removable dentures. Oral interviews recorded sociodemographic, medical and oral factors and unhealthy habits. Physical frailty was assessed using the Physical Frailty Phenotype (PFP) adapted to age and sex. Oral examination recorded dental status, periodontal disease, oral diadochokinesis (ODK), maximum bite force, maximum tongue pressure, masticatory performance, swallowing function (Repetitive Saliva Swallowing test, RRST) and dry mouth. Univariate and multivariable logistic regression analyses were conducted using PFP as the dependent variable, categorised as robust and prefrail/frail status (p ≤ 0.05).

Sixty persons participated in the study with a mean age of 52.8 ± 17.7 years (range: 20-84 years). Thirty-three (55%) were classified as prefrail/frail based on PFP. In the univariate analyses, lower Total MNA Score (p = 0.007), higher Clinical Oral Dryness Score (p = 0.017), and higher Xerostomia Inventory score (p = 0.044) were statistically significantly associated with prefrailty/frailty. Severe periodontitis (p = 0.063), ODK/pa (p = 0.059), and lower RSST Score (p = 0.072) were marginally significantly associated with prefrailty/frailty. The multivariable logistic regression analysis did not reveal any statistically significant associations.

Multivariable statistical analysis did not reveal statistically significant associations between oral health and PFP in Greek community-dwelling adults. Significant associations based on univariate analyses should be further explored in larger samples.