Sex difference in oral frailty Among older hospitalized cancer patients: a cross-sectional survey in taizhou, China
Abstract
Oral frailty is an associated factor for frailty and may increase the likelihood of transitioning from pre-frailty to frailty in older patients. Therefore, this study analyzed factors associated with oral frailty in older hospitalized patients with cancer in Taizhou, China. We included 190 older patients with cancer who were hospitalized from April to June 2024 were selected by convenience sampling in a tertiary hospital in Taizhou. A general information questionnaire and the Mini Nutritional Assessment - Short Form, Oral Health Assessment Tool and Oral Frailty Index-8 were used for the investigation. Multivariable logistic regression was used to identify factors associated with oral frailty. 190 older in-patients with cancer were included in the study, comprising 111 men and 79 women. The proportion at high risk of oral frailty was 54.7% (men: 57.7% vs. women: 50.6%, p = 0.338). Based on the multivariable logistic regression, patients who with oral frailty had significantly higher odds of denture (OR = 7.710, 95% CI: 2.932–20.275, p < 0.001) and malnutrition (OR = 2.607, 95% CI: 1.197–5.678, p = 0.016). The disparity was also found in the sex-stratified subgroup analyses. In women cancer patients, denture (OR = 6.417, 95% CI: 1.717–23.986, p = 0.006) was the significant factor related to oral frailty. In men cancer patients, denture (OR = 15.858, 95% CI: 3.227–77.929, p < 0.001), xerostomia (OR = 12.725, 95% CI: 1.607–100.763, p = 0.016), malnutrition (OR = 2.972, 95% CI: 1.010–8.743, p = 0.048), and poor oral health (OR = 5.279, 95% CI: 1.009–27.632, p = 0.049) were associated with oral frailty. Oral frailty was common among older cancer patients. Denture and malnutrition may help identify patients at increased likelihood of oral frailty. Therefore, early identify and appropriate treatment were required given the differences in the associated factors to oral frailty among men and women older cancer patients.