Tomoki Tanaka1,2, Kyo Takahashi1, Hirohiko Hirano3, Takeshi Kikutani4, Yutaka Watanabe3, Yuki Ohara5, Hiroyasu Furuya4, Tsuji Tetsuo1, Masahiro Akishita2, Katsuya Iijima1. 1. Institute of Gerontology, University of Tokyo, Tokyo. 2. Department of Geriatric Medicine, University of Tokyo, Tokyo. 3. Tokyo Metropolitan Institute of Gerontology, Tokyo. 4. Division of Clinical Oral Rehabilitation, Nippon Dental University Graduate School of Life Dentistry at Tokyo, Tokyo. 5. Department of Oral Health Care Education, Tokyo Medical and Dental University, Tokyo, Japan.
Abstract
Background: Oral health is important for maintaining general health among the elderly. However, a longitudinal association between poor oral health and general health has not been reported. We investigated whether poor oral status can predict physical weakening (physical frailty, sarcopenia, and subsequent disability) and identified the longitudinal impact of the accumulated poor oral health (i.e. oral frailty) on adverse health outcomes, including mortality. Methods: A total of 2,011 elderly individuals (aged ≥ 65 years) participated in the baseline survey of the Kashiwa study in 2012. At baseline, 16 oral status measures and covariates such as demographic characteristics were assessed. As outcomes, physical frailty and sarcopenia were assessed at baseline and at follow-up in 2013 and 2014. Physical independence and survival were assessed from 2012 to 2016 at the time of long-term care certification and time of death. Results: Poor oral status as determined by the number of natural teeth, chewing ability, articulatory oral motor skill, tongue pressure, and subjective difficulties in eating and swallowing significantly predicted future physical weakening (new onsets of physical frailty, sarcopenia, and disability). Oral frailty was defined as co-existing poor status in ≥3 of the six measures. Sixteen per cent of participants had oral frailty at baseline, which was significantly associated with 2.4-, 2.2-, 2.3-, and 2.2-fold increased risk of physical frailty, sarcopenia, disability, and mortality, respectively. Conclusion: Accumulated poor oral status strongly predicted the onset of adverse health outcomes, including mortality among the community-dwelling elderly. Prevention of oral frailty at an earlier stage is essential for healthy aging.
Background: Oral health is important for maintaining general health among the elderly. However, a longitudinal association between poor oral health and general health has not been reported. We investigated whether poor oral status can predict physical weakening (physical frailty, sarcopenia, and subsequent disability) and identified the longitudinal impact of the accumulated poor oral health (i.e. oral frailty) on adverse health outcomes, including mortality. Methods: A total of 2,011 elderly individuals (aged ≥ 65 years) participated in the baseline survey of the Kashiwa study in 2012. At baseline, 16 oral status measures and covariates such as demographic characteristics were assessed. As outcomes, physical frailty and sarcopenia were assessed at baseline and at follow-up in 2013 and 2014. Physical independence and survival were assessed from 2012 to 2016 at the time of long-term care certification and time of death. Results: Poor oral status as determined by the number of natural teeth, chewing ability, articulatory oral motor skill, tongue pressure, and subjective difficulties in eating and swallowing significantly predicted future physical weakening (new onsets of physical frailty, sarcopenia, and disability). Oral frailty was defined as co-existing poor status in ≥3 of the six measures. Sixteen per cent of participants had oral frailty at baseline, which was significantly associated with 2.4-, 2.2-, 2.3-, and 2.2-fold increased risk of physical frailty, sarcopenia, disability, and mortality, respectively. Conclusion: Accumulated poor oral status strongly predicted the onset of adverse health outcomes, including mortality among the community-dwelling elderly. Prevention of oral frailty at an earlier stage is essential for healthy aging.
Authors: Barbara H Rosario; Humaira Shafi; Anthony C A Yii; Louis Y Tee; Arron S H Ang; Gek Kheng Png; Wendy S T Ang; Yan Qing Lee; Pei Ting Tan; Aniruddha Sahu; Lin Fang Zhou; Yi Ling Zheng; Roslinda Binte Slamat; Aza A M Taha Journal: Eur Geriatr Med Date: 2021-06-03 Impact factor: 1.710