Evidence map›Paper›PMID 42343421›Full record

Observational studyBMC oral health2026

Influencing factors of oral frailty in elderly patients with head and neck cancer: a multicenter, cross-sectional study.

Xue Qin, Rui Lin, Ping Liu, Qingyue Yang, Hua Tao, Ziling Huang, Ting Zhang, Sha Zhou, Yue Wu, Haixia Feng

Abstract readMulticenter StudyObservational Study
In one paragraph

Observational study in BMC oral health, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

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1 · What the graph read from it

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3 · Its place in the literature

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4 · The record

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5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

10 authors.

Xue Qin *Department of Otorhinolaryngology, The First Affiliated Hospital with Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China.
Rui Lin *Department of Otorhinolaryngology, The First Affiliated Hospital with Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China.
Ping LiuDepartment of Otorhinolaryngology, The First Affiliated Hospital with Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China.
Qingyue YangDepartment of Otorhinolaryngology, The First Affiliated Hospital with Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China.
Hua TaoDepartment of Nursing, The Second People's Hospital of Huai'an, Huai'an City, Jiangsu, China.
Ziling HuangDepartment of Nursing, School of Medicine, Zhongda Hospital, Southeast University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China.
Ting ZhangDepartment of Nursing, The Second People's Hospital of Lianyungang, Lianyungang City, Jiangsu, China.
Sha ZhouDepartment of Nursing, School of Medicine, Zhongda Hospital, Southeast University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China.
Yue WuDepartment of Otorhinolaryngology, The First Affiliated Hospital with Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China.
Haixia FengDepartment of Nursing, School of Medicine, Zhongda Hospital, Southeast University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China. xrzfhx@163.com.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

objectivesThis study aimed to investigate the current situation of oral frailty (OF) in elderly patients with head and neck cancer (HNC) in China and analyse its influencing factors.

methodsA total of 332 elderly patients with HNC were recruited from four tertiary hospitals in Jiangsu, China. Oral frailty was assessed using the Oral Frailty Index-8 (OFI-8). A general information questionnaire, the Frailty Screening Scale (FRAIL), Nutritional Risk Screening 2002 (NRS 2002), number of remaining natural teeth(TN), and the Simplified Nutritional Appetite Questionnaire (SNAQ) were used to investigate factors associated with oral frailty. A nomogram was constructed as a visual representation of the final multivariable logistic regression model.

resultsThe prevalence of OF among elderly patients with HNC was 68.98%. Multivariate logistic regression analysis revealed that radiotherapy (OR = 3.163, 95% CI: 1.239-8.073), having three or more comorbidities (OR = 4.641, 95% CI: 2.055-10.481) and NRS 2002 score ≥ 3 (OR = 3.010, 95% CI: 1.037-8.735) were associated with a higher likelihood of oral frailty. In contrast, SNAQ score > 14 (OR = 0.303, 95% CI: 0.108-0.854), higher monthly income (≥ 6,000 yuan; OR = 0.211, 95% CI: 0.064-0.698) and having ≥ 20 remaining natural teeth (TN ≥ 20; OR = 0.052, 95% CI: 0.017-0.156) were associated with a lower likelihood of oral frailty.

conclusionOral frailty is highly prevalent among elderly patients with HNC. The main associated factors include radiotherapy, appetite, nutrition status, number of remaining natural teeth, having three or more comorbidities, and income. Routine screening and multidisciplinary interventions targeting these modifiable factors may help prevent or delay OF in this vulnerable population.

Indexed as

Frail ElderlyFrailtyHead and Neck NeoplasmsAgedAged, 80 and overChinaCross-Sectional StudiesFemaleGeriatric AssessmentHumansMaleOral HealthPrevalenceRisk FactorsSurveys and QuestionnairesElderly patientsHead and neck cancerInfluencing factorsOral frailty

Identifiers

PMID42343421
PMCPMC13551850

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.