The changing trajectory of oral frailty in elderly stroke patients and its influencing factors

ObjectiveTo investigate the changing trajectory of oral frailty in elderly stroke patients and its associated influencing factors, and to provide reference for targeted clinical interventions.MethodsA convenience sample of 300 elderly stroke patients admitted to the neurology department of a tertiary grade A hospital in Shandong province were enrolled in this study.Data were collected using a general information questionnaire and standardized assessment tools,including the Oral Frailty Index⁃8(OFI⁃8),the Oral Health Assessment Tool(OHAT),the Geriatric Self⁃Efficacy in Oral Health Scale(GSEOH),and the Perceived Social Support Scale(PSSS).Oral frailty levels were evaluated based on these instruments.ResultsThe changing trajectory of oral frailty in elderly stroke patients was categorized into two distinct patterns:a high⁃level slow increase group(49.7%) and a low⁃level slow increase group(50.3%).Logistic regression analysis revealed that age,smoking history,prior cerebral infarction,number of remaining teeth,subjective chewing difficulty,oral health status,and perceived social support were significant predictors of oral frailty(all P