2026 Volume 40 Issue 4 Pages 215-222
Background：The Oral Frailty 5-Item Checklist（OF-5）was published in April 2024 as a unified assessment tool for oral frailty（OF）. While there are some studies targeting community-dwelling older adults, the checklistʼs application in dental outpatients remains limited. This study aimed to investigate the prevalence of OF, as assessed using the OF-5, in dental outpatients and to clarify its association with oral function and frailty.
Methods：A cross-sectional study was conducted on 239 outpatients aged 40 years and older（mean age：72 ± 13 years）who were visiting a dental hospital and two clinics for regular maintenance visits. OF was defined as a positive response on two or more items of the OF-5. Oral function was comprehensively evaluated, including tongue pressure and masticatory performance. Frailty was assessed using the Kihon Checklist. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was performed with OF status as the dependent variable and frailty status and other covariates as independent variables.
Results：The prevalence of OF was 58.2%（n＝139）. Patients with OF exhibited lower values in all measured oral functions compared to those without OF. Logistic regression analysis revealed that frailty was significantly associated with OF, with an odds ratio of 6.40（95% confidence interval：2.70-15.15）.
Conclusion：The OF-5 may be a useful screening tool in dental clinics to identify patients who are more likely to be frail and to encourage appropriate oral health management and attention to frailty.
