A Pilot Survey: Oral Function as One of the Risk Factors for Physical Frailty

Ayuto Kodama, Yu Kume, Masahiro Iwakura, Katsuya Iijima and Hidetaka Ota
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Ayuto Kodama: Advanced Research Center for Geriatric and Gerontology, Akita University, Akita 010-8543, Japan
Yu Kume: Department of Occupational Therapy, Graduate School of Medicine, Akita University, Akita 010-8543, Japan
Masahiro Iwakura: Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, Akita City Hospital, Akita 010-0933, Japan
Katsuya Iijima: Institute of Gerontology, Tokyo University, Tokyo 113-8656, Japan
Hidetaka Ota: Advanced Research Center for Geriatric and Gerontology, Akita University, Akita 010-8543, Japan

IJERPH, 2022, vol. 19, issue 10, 1-9

Abstract: Background: The aim of this study was to examine the association of the multiple facets of oral, motor, and social functions in community-dwelling older adults, to identify factors that might influence the risk of frailty. Methods: Of the 82 participants included in the study, 39 (5 males and 34 females) were young-old adults, with an average age of 70.5 ± 2.8 years, and 43 (14 males and 29 females) were old-old adults, with an average age of 78.7 ± 2.9 years. We assessed the risk factors for frailty among oral, motor, and social functions. Results: Statistical analysis showed a significant difference in the oral diadochokinesis between the groups ( p = 0.006). According to the Spearman correlation analysis, a significant association was observed with age and oral diadochokinesis (rs = −0.262, p = 0.018), and social support (rs = −0.219, p = 0.049). Moreover, binomial logistic regression analysis revealed a significant association of frailty with the occlusal force (odds ratio, 0.031; 95% confidence interval (95% CI), 0.002–0.430; p = 0.010), General Oral Health Index (odds ratio, 0.930; 95% CI, 0.867–0.999, p = 0.046), and availability of social support (odds ratio, 0.803, 95% CI, 0.690–0.934, p = 0.004). Conclusions: To prevent frailty at an early stage, assessments of oral functions, and also that of the availability of social support, are important.

Keywords: risk of frailty; oral frailty; social support (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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