Circ Rep. 2026 Feb 24;8(6):917-925. doi: 10.1253/circrep.CR-26-0056. eCollection 2026 Jun 10.
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Oral frailty (OF), defined as a multidimensional decline in oral function, is an early marker of functional vulnerability in older adults. Although frailty is linked to cardiovascular disease incidence and prognosis, the relationship between OF, heart disease (HD), and multimorbidity (MM) remains unclear.
METHODS AND RESULTS: We conducted a cross-sectional analysis of 16,294 community-dwelling adults aged ≥65 years in the 2022 Japan Gerontological Evaluation Study. OF was assessed using the Oral Frailty 5-item Checklist. Among 1,575 participants with HD, we compared those with HD alone and those with HD plus comorbidities (HD+MM). We also compared OF and its components across the 4 groups based on HD and MM status. The overall prevalence of OF was 33.9%, increasing to 42.9% in individuals with HD. OF was significantly more prevalent in the HD+MM group than in the HD-only group (44.3% vs. 36.2%). Respiratory, digestive, immune, and ear diseases were strongly associated with OF. Furthermore, OF, lower Tokyo Metropolitan Institute of Gerontology Index of Competence scores, and higher body mass index were independently associated with a greater comorbidity burden in older adults.
CONCLUSIONS: OF is common in older adults with HD, particularly in those with MM. Incorporating oral function assessment into cardiovascular risk evaluation may help identify high-risk individuals and support comprehensive management strategies for the aging population.
PMID:42273316 | PMC:PMC13249489 | DOI:10.1253/circrep.CR-26-0056