Influence of Oral Health on Frailty in Patients With Type 2 Diabetes Aged 75 Years or Older

Abstract

Background: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the influence of oral health on frailty in elderly patients with type 2 diabetes.Methods: Patients with type 2 diabetes aged 75 years or older were included in this retrospective study. Eligible patients were surveyed by questionnaire for frailty, oral health status, and cognitive and living functions. Factors influencing pre-frailty, frailty, and individual frailty score categories were evaluated. Results: Of the 111 patients analyzed, 66 cases (59.5%) were categorized as robust, 33 cases (29.7%) as pre-frailty, and 5 cases (4.5 %) as frailty. The oral frailty index, the cognitive and living functions score, and BMI were factors influencing pre-frailty or frailty. In the evaluation by individual frailty score categories, BMI was found to only influence those with a frailty score ≤2. The cognitive and living functions score was a factor influencing those with frailty scores ≤3. The oral frailty index was found to have a significant influence on all frailty score categories.Conclusion: Poor oral health has an influence on frailty in patients with type 2 diabetes aged ≥75. The management of oral health is an important consideration in the prevention of the frailty of elderly patients with diabetes.