The relationship and affecting factors between oral health and frailty in the older people: A cross-sectional study

Abstract

Objective: To investigate the connection between oral health and frailty in older people and to determine the affecting factors.

Design: The research was a community-based cross-sectional study.

Sample: A Family Health Center conducted a study on 321 older people.

Measurements: Data were collected face-to-face using the Personal Information Form, Geriatric Oral Health Assessment Index, and Edmonton Frailty Scale. Factors affecting oral health and frailty were examined using the MANOVA test and the relationship between them was examined using Pearson's correlation test.

Results: It was determined that 52.6% of the participants had poor oral health and 56.1% had different levels of frailty. Education was effective on the Geriatric Oral Health Assessment Index scale score. The presence of chronic disease, frequency of tooth/denture brushing, age, education, and sex were effective on the Edmonton Frailty Scale. When the partial eta square values were examined, it was determined that the variable that had the highest impact on the GOHAI and EFS scale scores was educational status. It was determined that there was a significant negative relationship between participants' oral health and frailty scores (r = -0.539, p < .001).

Conclusions: It was determined that more than half of the older individuals included in the study had poor subjective oral health and varying levels of frailty. The influencing factors were determined through multivariate advanced analysis. This relationship and affecting factors are important in providing appropriate early detection and care to older people.

Keywords: frailty; older people; oral health; primary care.