Abstract
OBJECTIVES: To analyse the elements that influence oral frailty in elderly maintenance hemodialysis patients and to comprehend the present state of this condition. METHODS: A survey of 325 elderly maintenance hemodialysis patients from three hospitals in Huzhou City was conducted using a general information questionnaire, the Oral Health Assessment Tool, the Knowledge, Attitude, and Practice of Oral Health Questionnaire, the Social Frailty, the Frail Scale, and the Oral Frailty Index. RESULTS: In elderly maintenance hemodialysis patients, the prevalence of oral frailty was 45.2%. Factors influencing it include the Oral Health Knowledge Score (OR = 0.84, 95% CI 0.72-0.98), Oral Health Behavior Score (OR = 0.95, 95% CI 0.92-0.98), insufficient dialysis (OR = 0.30, 95% CI 0.14-0.63), social frailty (OR = 3.72, 95% CI 1.57-8.83), physical frailty (OR = 3.12, 95% CI 1.55-6.30), number of missing teeth (OR = 1.09, 95% CI 1.03-1.15), swallowing abnormalities (OR = 2.84, 95% CI 1.26-6.38), and oral health scores (OR = 1.34, 95% CI 1.14-1.57) (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: Patients on elderly maintenance hemodialysis are more susceptible to oral frailty. Nursing staff should develop scientifically sound, effective, and targeted oral management strategies for these patients.