Current Status and Clinical Characteristics of Oral Frailty in Patients With Type 2 Diabetes Based on a Self-check Chart Issued by the Japan Dental Association

Abstract

The current status of oral frailty based on the Japan Dental Association self-check chart and the relationships between oral frailty and patient background were investigated in 260 patients with type 2 diabetes over 45 years old (female: 40 %, age: 70±11 years old). A high risk of oral frailty was observed in 93 subjects (36 %), and more than half of the subjects were ≥75 years old. The clinical background significantly associated with a high risk of oral frailty was the age of the patient (odds ratio = 1.05, 95 % confidence interval=1.01-1.08, P=0.01) according to multivariate logistic regression. In another multivariate model, the patient age and serum albumin level (P=0.02) were significant explanatory factors for the high risk of oral frailty, and the presence of peripheral neuropathy also showed a tendency to be related to oral frailty (P=0.05). In a receiver operating characteristic curve, the cutoff value for age at high risk for oral frailty was calculated to be 74 years old. Proactive assessments and intervention for oral frailty are necessary in elderly patients, patients with malnutrition, or those with diabetic peripheral neuropathy.