Oral Frailty and Its Impact on Elderly Quality of Life: A Scoping Review

This scoping review study aims to investigate the impact of oral frailty on the quality of life in older adults, identify the instruments used, and explore the associated risk factors as reported in the literature.

This study was conducted over four months and utilized the PubMed, ScienceDirect, and Springer databases to identify relevant literature. Seventeen studies were included, comprising 12 cross-sectional and 5 cohort designs, with sample sizes ranging from 144 to 2031 participants aged 60 to 84 years (56.3% female). The most frequently reported components of oral frailty were poor oral hygiene (52.1%), having fewer than 20 teeth (40.1%), and oral pain (35,1%). The impact of oral frailty on quality of life encompasses declines in physical function, malnutrition, reduced dietary variety, and cognitive impairment. The most commonly used assessment instruments were the Oral Frailty Six Measures and the Physical Frailty Phenotype. Key risk factors identified included advanced age, comorbidities, and depressive symptoms.

Oral frailty is associated with a decline in the quality of life of older adults. A dental professional's role is crucial in improving the quality of life in this population.