Title : Analysis of the prevalence and influencing factors of oral frailty in community-dwelling older people
Abstract:
Background: Oral frailty is a cause of many adverse outcomes in the older adults and a precursor to declining physical function. Concern for the oral health of the older population cannot be ignored if healthy ageing is to be achieved. This study investigates and analyses the current situation and influencing factors of oral frailty in the older community population, with a view to providing a basis for the prevention and control of oral frailty in this population and helping China achieve the strategic goal of healthy ageing.
Methods: A Chinese versions of the Geriatric Oral Frailty Screening Scale, a general information questionnaire, the Short Nutritional Assessment Questionnaire (SNAQ), the Short Form Mini Nutritional Assessment (MNA-SF), the Mini-mental State Examination (MMSE), 15-Item Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS-15), FRAIL Scale, Social Frailty Scale, and Social Support Rating Scale were used to survey 331 older residents in two communities in Chengdu and to analyzed the factors related to oral frailty.
Results: The prevalence of oral frailty among the older adults in the community was 72.2% (239/331). Multivariate logistic regression analysis revealed that poor self-assessed oral function (odds ratio [OR] = 2.1, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.15-3.85, P=0.02), hearing impairment (OR = 3.27, 95% CI: 1.32-8.07, P=0.01), and depression (OR = 4.6, 95% CI: 1.06-19.85, P = 0.04) were risk factors for oral frailty in community-dwelling older people. A high appetite score (OR = 0.85 95% CI: 0.73-0.99, P = 0.04) was a protective factor against oral frailty.
Conclusions: The incidence of oral frailty is higher among the older population in Chinese communities. Risk factors for oral frailty include poor self-assessed oral function, hearing impairment and depression. Improving the appetite of the older adults can prevent the onset of oral frailty.
