Oral frailty and fall risk: A systematic review and meta-analysis in adults aged 45 and over

IF 1.4 3区医学 Q4 ENGINEERING, BIOMEDICAL

Clinical Biomechanics Pub Date : 2025-06-15 DOI:10.1016/j.clinbiomech.2025.106595

Prakasini Satapathy , Shilpa Gaidhane , Ashok Kumar Bishoyi , Subbulakshmi Ganesan , V. Kavita , Swati Mishra , Manpreet Kaur , Ganesh Bushi , Muhammed Shabil , Rukshar Syed , Sonam Puri , Sunil Kumar , Sabah Ansar , Sanjit Sah , Lovely Jain

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引用次数: 0

Abstract

Background

Oral health plays a vital role in overall well-being among older adults. Oral frailty—characterized by impaired chewing ability, reduced saliva production, and tooth loss—has been linked to an increased risk of physical decline, particularly falls. Falls are a major health concern in aging populations due to their impact on independence and healthcare burden. This study investigates the association between oral frailty and the occurrence of falls to inform prevention strategies and health policy.

Methods

A systematic review was conducted using PubMed, EMBASE, and Web of Science to identify studies examining the relationship between oral frailty and falls among individuals aged 45 years and older. Study quality was assessed using the National Institute of Health assessment tool. Statistical analyses, including meta-analysis and assessments of heterogeneity and publication bias, were performed using R Studio and Review Manager.

Findings

From 1563 records identified, 12 studies met the eligibility criteria. The combined analysis demonstrated a significant association between oral frailty and falls, with individuals experiencing oral frailty having nearly twice the risk of falling compared to those without (pooled odds ratio 1.86). Subgroup analysis showed a stronger association among adults aged 65 years and older (odds ratio 2.03), suggesting increased vulnerability with advancing age.

Interpretation

There is a clear association between oral frailty and increased risk of falls among older adults. Integrating oral health into geriatric care can help reduce fall-related injuries and associated healthcare costs. These findings support expanding access to dental care as part of preventive health coverage for the aging population.

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口腔虚弱和跌倒风险：一项对45岁及以上成年人的系统回顾和荟萃分析

口腔健康在老年人的整体健康中起着至关重要的作用。口腔虚弱——以咀嚼能力受损、唾液分泌减少和牙齿脱落为特征——与身体衰退的风险增加有关，尤其是跌倒。跌倒是老年人的一个主要健康问题，因为它会影响独立性和医疗负担。本研究探讨口腔虚弱与跌倒发生之间的关系，为预防策略和卫生政策提供信息。方法使用PubMed、EMBASE和Web of Science进行系统综述，以确定45岁及以上人群中口腔虚弱和跌倒之间关系的研究。使用美国国立卫生研究院评估工具评估研究质量。使用R Studio和Review Manager进行统计分析，包括荟萃分析、异质性和发表偏倚评估。从1563项记录中，有12项研究符合资格标准。综合分析表明，口腔虚弱和跌倒之间存在显著关联，有口腔虚弱的人跌倒的风险几乎是没有口腔虚弱的人的两倍（合并优势比为1.86）。亚组分析显示，65岁及以上的成年人之间的相关性更强（优势比2.03），表明随着年龄的增长，脆弱性增加。在老年人中，口腔虚弱和跌倒风险增加之间存在明显的联系。将口腔健康纳入老年保健有助于减少与跌倒有关的伤害和相关的医疗保健费用。这些发现支持扩大获得牙科保健作为预防老龄化人口健康覆盖的一部分。

本文章由计算机程序翻译，如有差异，请以英文原文为准。

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来源期刊

Clinical Biomechanics 医学-工程：生物医学

CiteScore

3.30

自引率

5.60%

发文量

189

审稿时长

12.3 weeks

期刊介绍： Clinical Biomechanics is an international multidisciplinary journal of biomechanics with a focus on medical and clinical applications of new knowledge in the field. The science of biomechanics helps explain the causes of cell, tissue, organ and body system disorders, and supports clinicians in the diagnosis, prognosis and evaluation of treatment methods and technologies. Clinical Biomechanics aims to strengthen the links between laboratory and clinic by publishing cutting-edge biomechanics research which helps to explain the causes of injury and disease, and which provides evidence contributing to improved clinical management. A rigorous peer review system is employed and every attempt is made to process and publish top-quality papers promptly. Clinical Biomechanics explores all facets of body system, organ, tissue and cell biomechanics, with an emphasis on medical and clinical applications of the basic science aspects. The role of basic science is therefore recognized in a medical or clinical context. The readership of the journal closely reflects its multi-disciplinary contents, being a balance of scientists, engineers and clinicians. The contents are in the form of research papers, brief reports, review papers and correspondence, whilst special interest issues and supplements are published from time to time. Disciplines covered include biomechanics and mechanobiology at all scales, bioengineering and use of tissue engineering and biomaterials for clinical applications, biophysics, as well as biomechanical aspects of medical robotics, ergonomics, physical and occupational therapeutics and rehabilitation.