Abstract
OBJECTIVE: To investigate the current state of oral frailty in oldely patients with require dental implants, analyze influencing factors in the characteristics of oral frailty across different patient categories, and provide a reference for clinical staff to identify high-risk groups and develop proactive management strategies. METHODS: Between January 2024 and March 2024, 654 patients with dental implants were selected using convenience sampling from six secondary and tertiary stomatological hospitals in Jiangsu and Zhejiang provinces. Data were collected via a general information questionnaire and the Oral Frailty Index-8. The latent profiles of oral frailty were examined, and univariate and Logistic regression analyses were conducted to determine the impact of various factors on these profiles. RESULTS: In this cross-sectional study, 605 valid questionnaires were returned, yielding an effective rate of 92.58%. The mean oral frailty score was 6.64 ± 1.21, with the sample comprising 223 males and 382 females, averaging 72.54 ± 6.33 years old. Oral frailty was categorized into three latent profiles: high (20.50%), moderate (53.72%), and low (25.78%) frailty groups. Factor analysis indicated that age, gender, education level, family income, number of implants, and dyslipidemia significantly predicted the classification of these profiles (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: Oral frailty in oldely patients with dental implants exhibits heterogeneity and is influenced by age, sex, education level, family income, number of implants, and dyslipidemia. Clinical staff should recognize the characteristics of different patient categories and implement proactive measures for those at high risk of oral frailty to enhance their quality of life.