Subjectively Low Oral Function Is Associated With Physical Frailty and Polypharmacy in Community-Dwelling Older Adults

Abstract

Objective

To examine each Kihon Checklist (KCL) oral function item, physical function, and the number of medications and describe associations between KCL oral function, frailty, sarcopenia, and polypharmacy.

Methods

Participants were 318 community-dwelling older adults (78.6 ± 6.9 years). The number of medications, KCL, the Japanese version of the Cardiovascular Health Study (J-CHS), grip strength, gait speed, and skeletal muscle index were measured. Analyses used cross-tabulation. Logistic regression modelled the presence of low oral function.

Results

Of the three oral function questions on the KCL, 34.9% of participants answered “yes” to Q13 on mastication, 24.8% answered “yes” to Q14 on swallowing, and 31.4% answered “yes” to Q15 on dry mouth. A total of 25.2% of the participants had low oral function according to the KCL. More of those with low oral function had polypharmacy. Oral function was not associated with sarcopenia. Physical frailty was associated with low oral function. Logistic regression analysis with oral function as the dependent variable and age, sex, polypharmacy, physical frailty, and sarcopenia status as the independent variables showed that physical frailty was associated with it.

Conclusion

Older people who are physically frail and taking multiple medications are likely also to have oral frailty.