Objective: The task force of the International Conference of Frailty and Sarcopenia Research (ICFSR) developed these clinical practice guidelines to overview the current evidence-base and to provide recommendations for the identification and management of frailty in older adults. Methods: These recommendations were formed using the GRADE approach, which ranked the strength and certainty (quality) of the supporting evidence behind each recommendation. Where the evidence-base was limited or of low quality, Consensus Based Recommendations (CBRs) were formulated. The recommendations focus on the clinical and practical aspects of care for older people with frailty, and promote person-centred care. Recommendations for Screening and Assessment: The task force recommends that health practitioners case identify/screen all older adults for frailty using a validated instrument suitable for the specific setting or context (strong recommendation). Ideally, the screening instrument should exclude disability as part of the screening process. For individuals screened as positive for frailty, a more comprehensive clinical assessment should be performed to identify signs and underlying mechanisms of frailty (strong recommendation). Recommendations for Management: A comprehensive care plan for frailty should address polypharmacy (whether rational or nonrational), the management of sarcopenia, the treatable causes of weight loss, and the causes of exhaustion (depression, anaemia, hypotension, hypothyroidism, and B12 deficiency) (strong recommendation). All persons with frailty should receive social support as needed to address unmet needs and encourage adherence to a comprehensive care plan (strong recommendation). First-line therapy for the management of frailty should include a multi-component physical activity programme with a resistance-based training component (strong recommendation). Protein/caloric supplementation is recommended when weight loss or undernutrition are present (conditional recommendation). No recommendation was given for systematic additional therapies such as cognitive therapy, problem-solving therapy, vitamin D supplementation, and hormone-based treatment. Pharmacological treatment as presently available is not recommended therapy for the treatment of frailty.

/pdf/physical-frailty-icfsr-international-clinical-practice-2hmtjrph5c.pdf

Physical Frailty: ICFSR International Clinical Practice Guidelines for Identification and Management

Objective To systematically review longitudinal studies on the association between oral health and frailty indicated by any validated scale or index. Background Frailty and poor oral health are common among ageing populations; however, evidence from longitudinal studies is scarce. Methods Three databases (MEDLINE, EMBASE and LILACS) were searched for published literature up to July 2018 using prespecified search strategy. Grey literature was searched using OpenGrey and Google Scholar. Quality of included studies was checked using the Newcastle-Ottawa Quality Assessment Scale (NOS) for longitudinal studies. Results Five longitudinal studies from three countries (Mexico, Japan, and UK) that examined the association between oral health and frailty were identified. All studies used Fried's frailty phenotype criteria for measuring frailty. Oral health indicators were number of teeth, periodontal disease, oral functions (functional dentition with occluding pairs and maximum bite force), use of removable dentures, accumulation of oral health problems and dry mouth symptoms. The studies showed significant association of number of teeth (two studies), oral functions (two studies), accumulation of oral health problems and number of dry mouth symptoms with frailty incidence, whereas periodontal disease showed inconsistent associations. Conclusion This systematic review identified significant longitudinal associations between oral health indicators and frailty that highlight the importance of oral health as a predictor of frailty in older age. There is a need for further research exploring the role of nutrition as a mediator of the relationship between oral health and frailty.

Association between oral health and frailty: A systematic review of longitudinal studies.

https://www.jstage.jst.go.jp/article/jpr/62/4/62_432/_pdf

Factors related to masticatory performance in healthy elderly individuals

Summary Poor oral health is common among older adults and can impair essential activities of daily living and contribute to frailty. We did a systematic review of studies on the relationship between oral health factors and frailty among older adults (>60 years), consulting six different electronic databases for studies published from database inception to March 20, 2021. In total, 39 articles met the eligibility requirements, including 12 different indicators of poor oral health related to frailty, which we grouped in four different categories: oral health status deterioration; deterioration of oral motor skills; chewing, swallowing, and saliva disorders; and oral pain. Factors of oral health status deterioration (52%), in particular few remaining teeth (29%), were most frequently associated with frailty. Reduced oral motor skills (27%), especially masticatory function (9%), oral diadochokinesis (5%), occlusal force (7%), and chewing, swallowing, and saliva disorders (20%), especially chewing difficulties [11%]), were less frequent but were similarly considered to be associated with frailty. Our findings could help to assess the contribution of each oral health item to a possible operational definition of this novel frailty phenotype, defined as an age-related gradual loss of oral function together with a decline in cognitive and physical functions.

Oral frailty and its determinants in older age: a systematic review

BACKGROUNDSarcopenia, or age-related loss of muscle mass, is measurable by computed tomography (CT). In elderly trauma patients, increased mortality is associated with decreased psoas muscle cross-sectional area (P-Area) on abdominal CT. Fall is the leading cause of injury in the elderly, and head C

Sarcopenia as a predictor of mortality in elderly blunt trauma patients: Comparing the masseter to the psoas using computed tomography

Summary
To determine whether maximum bite force (MBF), an objective measure of oral function, is associated with development of frailty in community-dwelling older adults. This prospective cohort study included community-dwelling Japanese adults aged 75 years at baseline (n = 322). Baseline MBF was measured using an electronic recording device (Occlusal Force-Meter GM10). Follow-up examinations, including physical fitness and anthropometric evaluation and structured questionnaires, were administered annually over a 5-year period to determine the incidence of frailty, which was defined by the presence of 3 or more of the following 5 components derived from the Cardiovascular Health Study: low level of mobility, low physical activity level, weakness, shrinking and poor endurance and energy. Adjusted hazard ratios (HRs) of incidence of frailty according to sex-stratified tertiles of baseline MBF were calculated using Cox proportional hazards regression models. During the follow-up, 49 participants (15.2%) developed frailty. Participants in the lower tertile of MBF exhibited a significantly greater risk of frailty than those in the upper tertile. After adjustment for sex, depression, diabetes and Eichner index, the adjusted HRs for frailty in the upper through lower tertiles of MBF were 1.00 (reference), 1.27 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.50-3.20) and 2.78 (95% CI: 1.15-6.72), respectively (P for trend = .01). Poor oral function, as indicated by low MBF, increases the risk of development of frailty among elderly men and women.

A 5-year longitudinal study of association of maximum bite force with development of frailty in community-dwelling older adults

There is limited information on the impact of oral function on mortality among older adults. The aim of this prospective cohort study was to examine whether an objective measure of oral function, maximum bite force (MBF), is associated with mortality in older adults during a 13-year follow-up period. Five hundred and fifty-nine community-dwelling Japanese (282 men and 277 women) aged 70 years at baseline were included in the study. Medical and dental examinations and a questionnaire survey were conducted at baseline. Maximum bite force was measured using an electronic recording device (Occlusal Force-Meter GM10). Follow-up investigation to ascertain vital status was conducted 13 years after baseline examinations. Survival rates among MBF tertiles were compared using Cox proportional hazards regression models stratified by sex. There were a total of 111 deaths (82 events for men and 29 for women). Univariable analysis revealed that male participants in the lower MBF tertile had increased risk of all-cause mortality [hazard ratio (HR) = 1·94, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 1·13-3·34] compared with those in the upper MBF tertile. This association remained significant after adjustment for confounders (adjusted HR = 1·84, 95% CI = 1·07-3·19). Conversely, no association between MBF and all-cause mortality was observed in female participants. Maximum bite force was independently associated with all-cause mortality in older Japanese male adults. These data provide additional evidence for the association between oral function and geriatric health.

Maximum bite force at age 70 years predicts all‐cause mortality during the following 13 years in Japanese men

We report a case of asymptomatic ovarian abscesses developed from ovarian endometriosis in a woman with infertility. A 42-year-old married woman presented to our hospital on referral from an in vitro fertilization clinic for enucleation of uterine fibroids. Ovarian endometriotic cysts were also present, which could be considered a cause of infertility. Having undergone oocyte retrieval and embryo transfer several times, she had no evidence of pelvic infection. Laparoscopic myomectomy and left ovarian cystectomy were performed. During surgery, findings in the left adnexa suggested that the ovarian endometriotic cysts had developed chronic ovarian abscesses. Although fenestration and irrigation of the abscesses was performed, the patient had symptoms of severe inflammation after surgery. This case suggests that latent clinical deterioration may occur in patients with ovarian abscesses. Therefore, careful preoperative diagnosis and postoperative management are needed in patients who have undergone assisted reproductive techniques. 

N. Sato

Papers

A 5-year longitudinal study of association of maximum bite force with development of frailty in community-dwelling older adults

Maximum bite force at age 70 years predicts all‐cause mortality during the following 13 years in Japanese men

A case of ovarian endometriotic cysts with chronic ovarian abscesses found at surgery and showing symptoms of severe infection after surgery