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Oral Frailty and Its Association With Frailty Status in Older Adults: Evidence From a Multicentre Study
Xiaoke Li1, Jing Zhang1, Libing Tan2
1Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Peking University School and Hospital of Stomatology and National Center of Stomatology and National Clinical Research Center for Oral Diseases, Beijing, China.
Journal of Oral Rehabilitation
|November 24, 2025
Summary
Oral frailty is linked to overall frailty in older adults. Reduced chewing force is a key risk factor, with difficulties increasing with age, highlighting the need for integrated oral health screening in elder care.
Area of Science:
- Gerontology
- Oral Health
- Public Health
Background:
- Oral frailty is a growing concern in the elderly population.
- A novel multidimensional oral frailty assessment tool (OFAT) was developed.
- Understanding oral frailty's link to overall health is crucial for intervention.
Purpose of the Study:
- To explore the relationship between oral frailty and oral health factors in older adults.
- To analyze the evolution of oral frailty characteristics across different age groups.
- To support early identification and intervention strategies for frailty.
Main Methods:
- A cross-sectional study involving 773 older adults in Beijing.
- Oral frailty assessed using the OFAT and Five-item Oral Frailty Checklist.
- Frailty status determined by the FRAIL scale; logistic regression used for analysis.
Main Results:
- Oral frailty, assessed by OFAT, significantly correlated with frailty status (p=0.008).
- Reduced occlusal force independently predicted frailty status (p=0.002).
- Age-specific patterns showed shifting risk factors, with chewing difficulties prominent in older age groups.
Conclusions:
- Oral frailty is associated with overall frailty status in the elderly.
- The OFAT shows potential for evaluating oral frailty and aiding early detection.
- Integrating oral frailty screening into elder care can enhance frailty management.
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