Oral Frailty Is Associated With the Physical Component of Health‐Related Quality of Life in Middle‐Aged and Older Japanese Master Athletes
6 affiliations
- 1Faculty of Agriculture Setsunan University Hirakata Osaka Japan
- 2Faculty of Contemporary Social Studies Setsunan University Neyagawa Osaka Japan
- 3Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences Setsunan University Hirakata Osaka Japan
- 4College of Gastronomy Management Ritsumeikan University Kusatsu Shiga Japan
- 5Hannan Chuo Hospital Matsubara Osaka Japan
- 6Division of Physical and Health Education Setsunan University Neyagawa Osaka Japan
Abstract
Background: The association between health‐related quality of life (HRQoL) and oral health remains unclear, especially in physically active adults. This study aimed to examine the association between HRQoL and oral frailty in middle‐aged and older Japanese master athletes.
Methods: In this cross‐sectional study, 197 Japanese master athletes aged ≥ 35 years participated. HRQoL was assessed using the Short Form‐8, from which physical (PCS) and mental (MCS) component summary scores were derived. Oral frailty was assessed using the Oral Frailty 5‐Item Checklist. Multivariate regression analyses were conducted to adjust for potential confounders.
Results: Of the participants, 195 individuals (median age: 59.0 years [interquartile range: 53.8–68.0], 41.0% women) were included in the analysis. The prevalence of oral frailty was 37.5% in PCS Tertile 1, compared with 16.9% in Tertile 2 and 16.7% in Tertile 3, while the prevalence was similar across MCS tertiles. Multivariate regression analysis revealed that oral frailty was independently and inversely associated with PCS (standardized β = −0.20, p = 0.006), but not MCS (standardized β = −0.12, p = 0.090). In the sub‐analysis, difficulty chewing (standardized β = −0.15, p = 0.034) and swallowing (standardized β = −0.26, p < 0.001) were associated with PCS, whereas fewer teeth (standardized β = −0.15, p = 0.035) and dry mouth (standardized β = −0.21, p = 0.004) were associated with MCS.
Conclusion: Oral frailty was significantly associated with physical HRQoL in Japanese master athletes. These findings suggest that incorporating oral frailty assessment into health promotion strategies may enhance HRQoL in physically active adults.
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BibTeX
@article{nakata2026oral,
title = {{Oral Frailty Is Associated With the Physical Component of Health‐Related Quality of Life in Middle‐Aged and Older Japanese Master Athletes}},
author = {Eriko Nakata and Keizo Yamamoto and Shinobu Mitamura and Naoko Oda and Hiromi Niina and Aya Nohara and Yumiko Hibi and Aya Uemura and Kensuke Takezawa and Mami Fujibayashi},
journal = {Geriatrics \& Gerontology International},
year = {2026},
month = oct,
doi = {10.1111/ggi.70889},
url = {https://doi.org/10.1111/ggi.70889},
note = {CC BY 4.0},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - Oral Frailty Is Associated With the Physical Component of Health‐Related Quality of Life in Middle‐Aged and Older Japanese Master Athletes
AU - Eriko Nakata
AU - Keizo Yamamoto
AU - Shinobu Mitamura
AU - Naoko Oda
AU - Hiromi Niina
AU - Aya Nohara
AU - Yumiko Hibi
AU - Aya Uemura
AU - Kensuke Takezawa
AU - Mami Fujibayashi
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/10/27
JO - Geriatrics & Gerontology International
DO - 10.1111/ggi.70889
UR - https://doi.org/10.1111/ggi.70889
AB - Background: The association between health‐related quality of life (HRQoL) and oral health remains unclear, especially in physically active adults. This study aimed to examine the association between HRQoL and oral frailty in middle‐aged and older Japanese master athletes. Methods: In this cross‐sectional study, 197 Japanese master athletes aged ≥ 35 years participated. HRQoL was assessed using the Short Form‐8, from which physical (PCS) and mental (MCS) component summary scores were derived. Oral frailty was assessed using the Oral Frailty 5‐Item Checklist. Multivariate regression analyses were conducted to adjust for potential confounders. Results: Of the participants, 195 individuals (median age: 59.0 years [interquartile range: 53.8–68.0], 41.0% women) were included in the analysis. The prevalence of oral frailty was 37.5% in PCS Tertile 1, compared with 16.9% in Tertile 2 and 16.7% in Tertile 3, while the prevalence was similar across MCS tertiles. Multivariate regression analysis revealed that oral frailty was independently and inversely associated with PCS (standardized β = −0.20, p = 0.006), but not MCS (standardized β = −0.12, p = 0.090). In the sub‐analysis, difficulty chewing (standardized β = −0.15, p = 0.034) and swallowing (standardized β = −0.26, p < 0.001) were associated with PCS, whereas fewer teeth (standardized β = −0.15, p = 0.035) and dry mouth (standardized β = −0.21, p = 0.004) were associated with MCS. Conclusion: Oral frailty was significantly associated with physical HRQoL in Japanese master athletes. These findings suggest that incorporating oral frailty assessment into health promotion strategies may enhance HRQoL in physically active adults.
SN - 1444-1586
SN - 1447-0594
ER -