Physical function and oral frailty severity: A cross-sectional study.

Area of Science:

• Gerontology
• Oral Health
• Public Health

Background:

• Oral frailty is a growing concern among community-dwelling older adults.
• Physical function is increasingly recognized as a potential indicator of overall health status in aging populations.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the association between physical function and oral frailty severity.
• To determine the predictive value of physical indicators for oral frailty in older Korean adults.

Main Methods:

• A cohort of 138 community-dwelling older Korean adults was recruited.
• Oral frailty was assessed using a six-item scale, and physical function was measured using the Kihon checklist (KCL), handgrip strength (HS), physical performance (PP), and body mass index (BMI).
• Statistical analyses included latent class analysis (LCA) and logistic regression models.

Main Results:

• Higher KCL scores were associated with pre-oral frailty.
• Handgrip strength, physical performance, and BMI were significantly associated with oral frailty severity.
• Latent class analysis identified two distinct groups: robust and oral frailty types, with KCL scores differentiating these classes.

Conclusions:

• Subjective frailty, weak grip strength, poor physical performance, and low BMI are positively related to oral frailty severity.
• These physical indicators serve as practical tools for identifying oral frailty in older adults.
• Early identification of these markers can inform interventions to mitigate oral frailty progression and improve quality of life.