TY - JOUR
T1 - Assessing Frailty in the Older
T2 - The Role of Bite Force as an Independent Indicator
AU - Ferreira, Luciano Maia Alves
AU - Brito, José
AU - da Silva, Josie Resende Torres
AU - da Silva, Marcelo Lourenço
AU - Fischel e Andrade, Maia e.Maia
AU - Júdice, André
AU - Mendes, José João
AU - Machado, Vanessa
AU - Botelho, João Thiago
AU - Regalo, Simone Cecílio Hallak
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© 2025 by the authors.
PY - 2025/3/13
Y1 - 2025/3/13
N2 - Background: This study investigates the relationship between bite force and grip strength as indicators of frailty in older adults. Frailty syndrome, characterized by increased vulnerability to adverse health outcomes, poses significant challenges in geriatric care. Objectives: This research builds on previous findings linking oral health to frailty risk, emphasizing the need for targeted interventions. Methods: A total of 59 older participants, aged 60 years and older, were enrolled in this cross-sectional study conducted at the Egas Moniz School of Health and Science. The participants underwent assessments of bite force using an electric dynamometer and grip strength using a specialized device. Body composition was also measured using bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA). Results: Statistical analysis revealed a significant positive correlation between bite force and grip strength, even after adjusting for age and body mass index (BMI). Age was significantly correlated with bite and grip force (p < 0.05), while BMI was correlated only with handgrip force but not with bite force (coefficient = −0.047, p = 0.737). Notably, bite force was found to be independent of BMI, unlike grip strength, which is generally influenced by body composition. This independence highlights the potential of bite force as a reliable and distinct marker for frailty that is not confounded by BMI-related factors. This study highlights the importance of oral health in maintaining overall well-being in older adults. Reduced bite force may indicate an increased risk of frailty, which can lead to malnutrition and decreased quality of life. These findings suggest that integrating bite force measurements into clinical assessments may improve the assessment of frailty and inform interventions aimed at improving health outcomes in the older population. Conclusions: This research provides new insights into the association between bite force and grip strength, emphasizing the unique value of bite force as an independent marker of frailty. It advocates for further studies to explore its role in geriatric care strategies.
AB - Background: This study investigates the relationship between bite force and grip strength as indicators of frailty in older adults. Frailty syndrome, characterized by increased vulnerability to adverse health outcomes, poses significant challenges in geriatric care. Objectives: This research builds on previous findings linking oral health to frailty risk, emphasizing the need for targeted interventions. Methods: A total of 59 older participants, aged 60 years and older, were enrolled in this cross-sectional study conducted at the Egas Moniz School of Health and Science. The participants underwent assessments of bite force using an electric dynamometer and grip strength using a specialized device. Body composition was also measured using bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA). Results: Statistical analysis revealed a significant positive correlation between bite force and grip strength, even after adjusting for age and body mass index (BMI). Age was significantly correlated with bite and grip force (p < 0.05), while BMI was correlated only with handgrip force but not with bite force (coefficient = −0.047, p = 0.737). Notably, bite force was found to be independent of BMI, unlike grip strength, which is generally influenced by body composition. This independence highlights the potential of bite force as a reliable and distinct marker for frailty that is not confounded by BMI-related factors. This study highlights the importance of oral health in maintaining overall well-being in older adults. Reduced bite force may indicate an increased risk of frailty, which can lead to malnutrition and decreased quality of life. These findings suggest that integrating bite force measurements into clinical assessments may improve the assessment of frailty and inform interventions aimed at improving health outcomes in the older population. Conclusions: This research provides new insights into the association between bite force and grip strength, emphasizing the unique value of bite force as an independent marker of frailty. It advocates for further studies to explore its role in geriatric care strategies.
KW - bite force
KW - fragility
KW - grip strength
KW - oral health
KW - phenotype
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=105003487157&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.3390/geriatrics10020040
DO - 10.3390/geriatrics10020040
M3 - Article
C2 - 40126290
AN - SCOPUS:105003487157
SN - 2308-3417
VL - 10
JO - Geriatrics (Switzerland)
JF - Geriatrics (Switzerland)
IS - 2
M1 - 40
ER -
