Association between intrinsic capacity and oral health in older patients in a frailty clinic

This study aimed to investigate how intrinsic capacity (IC) deficit is associated with oral functional decline.

This cross-sectional study enrolled older adults at a research hospital frailty clinic between July 2021 and May 2023. IC evaluation included the locomotion, cognition, vitality, psychology, and sensory domains. Criteria for deficits were established within each domain, and the number of IC deficit domains was calculated for each patient. Oral function assessment included oral hygiene, oral dryness, occlusal force, tongue–lip motor function, tongue pressure, masticatory function, and swallowing function. Patients who met three or more criteria were classified into the oral hypofunction (OHF) group. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses were performed to investigate the relationship between IC deficit and OHF.

Of 222 included patients (mean age 78.3 ± 6.3 years; 39.6% men), 105 (47.3%) met the criteria for OHF. This OHF group showed a significantly higher prevalence of locomotion, cognition, psychology, and sensory domain deficits than the normal oral function group. Multivariate analysis adjusted for age and sex revealed a significant association between IC deficits and OHF (odds ratio [OR], 1.33; 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.04–1.70). A significant association was also observed between the locomotion domain and OHF (OR, 2.06; 95% CI 1.13–3.76).

This study highlights the potential relationship between the number of IC domain deficits and oral functional decline, with the most significant domain being locomotion. Furthermore, it suggests a possible link between sensory and oral function.