Abstract
The purpose of this prospective cohort study was to identify predictors for frailty among possible oral factors in community-dwelling older people. Ninety-seven participants (≥60 years old) without frailty at baseline were included and assigned to either the robust or the frailty group after 2-year follow-up. The frailty was defined using the Japan Cardiovascular Health Study index. The numbers of present and functional teeth and periodontal disease severity were recorded. Bacterial counts on the dorsum of the tongue, oral moisture, tongue pressure, occlusal force, masticatory ability, and the oral diadochokinesis (ODK) rate were measured. Swallowing function, along with psychosocial status, relationships with communities and people, nutritional status, medical history, and comorbidities were evaluated using a questionnaire. The newly identified frailty group at follow-up showed significantly lower values in the number of teeth present, ODK/ta/sound and ODK/ka/sound rates, and clinical attachment level at baseline compared to the robust group. A logistic regression model showed a significantly negative association between the ODK/ta/sound rate at baseline and the incidence of frailty. Articulatory oral motor skill was found to be a predictor of frailty after two years.
Highlights
Academic Editors: Yutaka Watanabe, Frailty is an age-related medical syndrome characterized by a decline in strength, endurance, and physiological function that increases the likelihood of needing care or dying [1]
OR: odds ratio, CI: confidence interval, ODK: oral diadochokinesis, CAL: clinical attachment level. In this longitudinal cohort study, various oral functions were assessed and it was found that higher ODK/ta/sound rates were directly associated with lower frailty at 2 years
The results of the present study show that ODK affects frailty, but the mechanism is not completely understood
Summary
Academic Editors: Yutaka Watanabe, Frailty is an age-related medical syndrome characterized by a decline in strength, endurance, and physiological function that increases the likelihood of needing care or dying [1]. Various factors associated with frailty are demographic and socioeconomic factors [3], systemic diseases [3,4], psycho-behavioral factors [3,5], and nutritional status [6] Oral factors, such as oral health status and oral function, are associated with frailty [7]. Of the various oral health status and oral functions, there may be factors that predict frailty The novelty of this longitudinal study was to evaluate various oral functions and oral health status simultaneously and to determine factors associated with the incidence of frailty. The purpose of this prospective cohort study was to identify oral factors that predict frailty in community-dwelling older people
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