Ferreira Luciano Maia Alves, Brito José, da Silva Josie Resende Torres, da Silva Marcelo Lourenço, Fischel E Andrade Maia E Maia, Júdice André, Mendes José João, Machado Vanessa, Botelho João Thiago, Regalo Simone Cecílio Hallak
Neuromodulation and Pain Unit (NeuroPain), Egas Moniz School of Health and Science, 2825-511 Almada, Portugal.
Egas Moniz Interdisciplinary Research Centre (CiiEM), Egas Moniz School of Health and Sciences, 2825-511 Almada, Portugal.
Geriatrics (Basel). 2025 Mar 13;10(2):40. doi: 10.3390/geriatrics10020040.
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. This research builds on previous findings linking oral health to frailty risk, emphasizing the need for targeted interventions. 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). 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 ( < 0.05), while BMI was correlated only with handgrip force but not with bite force (coefficient = -0.047, = 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. 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.
本研究调查咬合力与握力之间的关系，将其作为老年人虚弱的指标。虚弱综合征的特征是更容易出现不良健康后果，这给老年护理带来了重大挑战。本研究基于之前将口腔健康与虚弱风险联系起来的研究结果，强调了针对性干预的必要性。共有59名60岁及以上的老年参与者参加了在埃加斯·莫尼斯健康与科学学院进行的这项横断面研究。参与者使用电动测力计进行咬合力评估，并使用专门设备进行握力评估。还使用生物电阻抗分析（BIA）测量身体成分。统计分析表明，即使在调整年龄和体重指数（BMI）后，咬合力与握力之间仍存在显著正相关。年龄与咬合力和握力显著相关（<0.05），而BMI仅与握力相关，与咬合力无关（系数=-0.047，=0.737）。值得注意的是，与握力不同，咬合力不受BMI影响，握力通常受身体成分影响。这种独立性凸显了咬合力作为虚弱可靠且独特标志物的潜力，不受BMI相关因素的混淆。本研究强调了口腔健康在维持老年人整体健康方面的重要性。咬合力降低可能表明虚弱风险增加，这可能导致营养不良和生活质量下降。这些发现表明，将咬合力测量纳入临床评估可能会改善对虚弱的评估，并为旨在改善老年人群健康结果的干预措施提供依据。本研究为咬合力与握力之间的关联提供了新的见解，强调了咬合力作为虚弱独立标志物的独特价值。它主张进一步开展研究，以探索其在老年护理策略中的作用。
