Associations of poor oral health with frailty and physical functioning in the oldest old: results from two studies in England and Japan

BMC Geriatrics

Paula Moynihan¹  Michiyo Takayama²  Yasumichi Arai³  Yukiko Abe³  Tomoka Ito⁴  Kensuke Nishio⁴  Toshimitsu Iinuma⁴  Viviana Albani⁵  Andrew Kingston⁵  Sheena E. Ramsay⁵  Eftychia Kotronia⁵  Louise Robinson⁵  Barbara Hanratty⁵ 

[1]Adelaide Dental School, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, The University of Adelaide, Adelaide, Australia

[2]Centre for Preventive Medicine, Keio University School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan

[3]Centre for Supercentenarian Medical Research, Keio University School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan

[4]Department of Complete Denture Prosthodontics, Nihon University School of Dentistry, Tokyo, Japan

[5]Population Health Sciences Institute, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK

关键词: Frailty;    Oldest old;    Oral health;    Mobility;   

DOI  :  10.1186/s12877-021-02081-5

来源: Springer

【 摘 要 】

BackgroundVery few studies have examined the relationship of oral health with physical functioning and frailty in the oldest old (> 85 years). We examined the association of poor oral health with markers of disability, physical function and frailty in studies of oldest old in England and Japan.MethodsThe Newcastle 85+ Study in England (n = 853) and the Tokyo Oldest Old Survey on Total Health (TOOTH; n = 542) comprise random samples of people aged > 85 years. Oral health markers included tooth loss, dryness of mouth, difficulty swallowing and difficulty eating due to dental problems. Physical functioning was based on grip strength and gait speed; disability was assessed as mobility limitations. Frailty was ascertained using the Fried frailty phenotype. Cross-sectional analyses were undertaken using logistic regression.ResultsIn the Newcastle 85+ Study, dry mouth symptoms, difficulty swallowing, difficulty eating, and tooth loss were associated with increased risks of mobility limitations after adjustment for sex, socioeconomic position, behavioural factors and co-morbidities [odds ratios (95%CIs) were 1.76 (1.26–2.46); 2.52 (1.56–4.08); 2.89 (1.52–5.50); 2.59 (1.44–4.65) respectively]. Similar results were observed for slow gait speed. Difficulty eating was associated with weak grip strength and frailty on full adjustment. In the TOOTH Study, difficulty eating was associated with increased risks of frailty, mobility limitations and slow gait speed; and complete tooth loss was associated with increased risk of frailty.ConclusionDifferent markers of poor oral health are independently associated with worse physical functioning and frailty in the oldest old age groups. Research to understand the underlying pathways is needed.

【 授权许可】

CC BY