PP240
ORAL FRAILTY AND MULTIDIMENSIONAL VULNERABILITY: ASSOCIATIONS BETWEEN THE OFI-8, FRAIL, AND TILBURG FRAILTY INDICATORS IN OLDER ADULTS
O. Yilmaz1,*
1Internal Medicine Division of Geriatrics, Istanbul Teaching and Research Hospital, Istanbul , Türkiye
Rationale: Objective:
Oral frailty represents a decline in oral function that may reflect broader physiological and psychosocial vulnerability in older adults. This study examined the relationship between oral frailty risk, physical frailty, and multidimensional frailty using the Oral Frailty Index-8 (OFI-8), the FRAIL scale, and the Tilburg Frailty Indicator (TFI).
Methods: Methods:
This cross-sectional study included 470 community-dwelling older adults (mean age 73.6 ± 7.8 years) evaluated at a geriatrics outpatient clinic in Türkiye. Participants were assessed using the OFI-8, FRAIL scale, and TFI, along with measures of nutritional status, physical performance, and sarcopenia risk. Concordance between instruments was examined using Cohen’s kappa, and multivariate logistic regression analysis identified factors independently associated with oral frailty risk.
Results: Results:
Oral frailty risk (OFI-8 ≥4) was identified in 56% of participants. Moderate concordance was observed between oral frailty risk and multidimensional frailty (κ = 0.366, p < 0.001), whereas no significant agreement was found with the FRAIL scale. Participants at risk for oral frailty had lower serum albumin levels and higher TFI scores. In multivariate analysis, TFI-defined frailty was independently associated with oral frailty risk (OR = 8.11, 95% CI: 4.82–13.64, p < 0.001).
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Conclusion: Conclusion:
Oral frailty risk is moderately associated with multidimensional frailty and may indicate early multidomain vulnerability rather than an isolated oral condition. The OFI-8 appears to be a practical screening tool for identifying older adults at risk of broader functional decline. Integrating oral frailty assessment into geriatric evaluations may support early detection and preventive strategies.
Disclosure of Interest: None declared