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Association between Oral Frailty and Cognitive Impairment among Nursing
Home Older Adults: A Cross-sectional Study

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J. Wei, M. Liu, X. Zhang, F. Liu, and C. Zhou 4
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State Key Laboratory of Oral Diseases & National Center for Stomatology & National Clinical
Research Center for Oral Diseases & Department of Sterile Supply, West China Hospital of Stomatology,
Sichuan University, China, Center of Gerontology and Geriatrics, West China Hospital, Sichuan University,
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China, State Key Laboratory of Oral Diseases & National Center for Stomatology & National Clinical
Research Center for Oral Diseases & Department of Nursing, West China Hospital of Stomatology, Sichuan
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University, China, and West China School of Public Health, Sichuan University, China

Background: The degree of aging in China is gradually deepening. How to promote healthy aging
has become a problem that needs to be solved urgently. Oral health plays a significant role in overall
health and is essential for promoting healthy aging. The concept of oral frailty is gaining recognition
within the oral health field and is linked to various negative consequences. While existing research
has explored the relationship between oral frailty and cognitive decline in older adults living in the
community, there is a gap in knowledge regarding this association among elderly individuals residing
in nursing homes. This study aims to address this gap by examining the relationship between
oral frailty and cognitive impairment in nursing home residents, with the goal of offering practical
recommendations for managing these conditions in this population.

Objective: This study aimed to explore the association between oral frailty (OF) and cognitive
impairment among Chinese nursing home residents.

Methods: A quantitative cross-sectional study was conducted with 456 older adults in nursing homes
in Chengdu, China. Paper-based questionnaires were used to investigate cognitive impairment and
related confounding factors. OF was defined as limitations in at least three of six indicators.
Oral Presentation Abstracts

Results: A total of 37.7% and 45.2% of the participants had cognitive impairment and OF,respectively.
The mean age of the total sample was 77.49 (SD=9.42), and 51.3% (n=234) were female. After
controlling for potential confounding factors, older adults with OF had higher odds of being cognitive
impairment (OR=4.88,95%CI:2.02-12.74, P<0.001) than robust individuals.

Conclusion: This study suggests that older adults who have OF are associated with a higher risk of
cognitive impairment. This finding highlights the importance of maintaining as remain overall oral
function as possible throughout life and into old age. Cohort studies will be required in the future to
determine this relationship.

Keywords: oral frailty, cognitive impairment, older adults, nursing home

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Correspondence: Xuemei Zhang, Center of Gerontology and Geriatrics, West China Hospital, Sichuan
University, China
E-mail: zxm0709@126.com

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