Factors associated with oral frailty among community-dwelling older adults in Chengdu, China: a cross-sectional study

This study aims to reveal the factors associated with oral frailty among community dwelling older adults in Chengdu, China. A community-based cross-sectional study was conducted. Oral frailty was assessed using the Oral Frailty Index-6, encompassing the number of natural teeth, chewing ability, tongue pressure, oral diadochokinesis, and self-reported difficulties in eating tough food and swallowing on tea or soup. Statistical analyses were performed using SPSS 26.0, with modified Poisson regression employed to estimate prevalence ratios (PRs). A total of 470 community-dwelling adults aged 60 and older were included. Among them, 195 (41.5%) were identified as having oral frailty based on the OFI-6. Multivariable analysis identified that older age [70–79 years: PR:2.55, (95%CI: 1.83–3.55); ≥80 years: PR:2.89, (95%CI: 1.99–4.21)], dry mouth (PR:1.34, 95%CI: 1.00-1.80), low handgrip strength (PR:1.47, 95%CI: 1.17–1.85), and depression (PR: 1.50, 95%CI: 1.08–2.08) were associated with a higher prevalence of oral frailty, while female gender (PR: 0.79, 95%CI: 0.65–0.97) and using toothpicks (PR:0.63, 95%CI: 0.44–0.89) were associated with a lower prevalence (P < 0.05). This study revealed that oral frailty is a significant concern among the community-dwelling older adults in Western China included in our sample. The factors associated with oral frailty are multifaceted, spanning sociodemographic, behavioral, physical, and psychological domains. These findings underscore the need for targeted interventions and the integration of oral function assessments into community-based geriatric care.