Associations of poor oral health with frailty and physical functioning in the oldest old: results from two studies in England and Japan
Year: 2021
Type: article
Study design: Observational Study
Abstract: BACKGROUND: Very 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. METHODS: The 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. RESULTS: In 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. CONCLUSION: Different 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.
Source: BMC Geriatrics
Language: English
Topic: Frailty in Older Adults
Subfield: Geriatrics and Gerontology
Field: Medicine
Domain: Health Sciences
Open Access status: gold
Estimated APC paid: $2,490
Funders: National Institute for Health and Care Research, Department of Health and Social Care, Dunhill Medical Trust, Great Britain Sasakawa Foundation, Keio University, Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology, National Institutes of Health, Directorate for Biological Sciences, Medical Research Council, Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council, Japan Society for the Promotion of Science, NIHR School for Primary Care Research, National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research
Awards: G1453453857, Influence of oral and physical functions of very elderly people on disease prevention and mortality, G2961752580, Relatihonship between aging, age-related diseases, and leukocyte telomere length in the oldest old, G3177157297, G3371982703, The Newcastle 85+ Study: maintaining the health of the very old, Understanding the contribution of poor oral health to sarcopenia in older age and underlying mechanisms using UK and US cohort studies, Relationship between successful aging and oral function - Influence of aging about oral and physical functions -, Fuse, the Centre for Translational Reseach in Public Health (renewal), G6404723165, The clinical significance of chronic kidney disease and its biomarker in the oldest old, G6635768819, G7107453851, G7598427146, G8131235310, G8629900490, International comparative collaboration study of frailty among the oldest old
OpenAlex ID: W3111600519