Associations between inflammation, coagulation, cardiac strain and injury, and subclinical vascular disease with frailty in older men: a cross-sectional study.

BACKGROUND: Inflammation, coagulation activation, endothelial dysfunction and subclinical vascular disease are cross-sectionally associated with frailty. Cardiac-specific biomarkers are less-well characterised. We assessed associations between these and frailty, in men with, and without, cardiovascular disease (CVD). METHODS: Cross-sectional analysis of 1096 men without, and 303 with, CVD, aged 71-92, from the British Regional Heart Study. Multinominal logistic regression was performed to examine the associations between frailty status (robust/pre-frail/frail) and, separately, C-reactive protein (CRP), interleukin-6 (IL-6), tissue plasminogen activator (tPA), D-dimer, von Willebrand factor (vWF), high-sensitivity cardiac troponin-T (hs-cTnT), N-terminal pro B-type natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) (all natural log-transformed), and, in men without CVD, carotid intima-media thickness (CIMT), carotid-femoral pulse wave velocity (cfPWV), carotid distensibility coefficient (DC), and ankle-brachial pressure index (ABPI), adjusted for age, renal function, BMI, social class, smoking, polypharmacy, cognition, multimorbidity and systolic blood pressure. Explanatory variables with p < 0.05 were carried forward into mutually-adjusted analysis. RESULTS: In men without CVD, higher CRP, IL-6, vWF, tPA, hs-cTnT, NT-proBNP, cfPWV, and lower DC were significantly associated with frailty; mutually-adjusted, log IL-6 (OR for frailty = 2.02, 95%CI 1.38-2.95), log hs-cTnT (OR = 1.95, 95%CI 1.24-3.05) and DC (OR = 0.92, 95%CI 0.86-0.99) retained associations. In men with CVD, higher CRP, IL-6, and hs-cTnT, but not vWF, tPA, NT-proBNP or D-dimer, were significantly associated with frailty; mutually-adjusted, log hs-cTnT (OR 3.82, 95%CI 1.84-7.95) retained a significant association. CONCLUSIONS: In older men, biomarkers of myocardial injury are associated with frailty. Inflammation is associated with frailty in men without CVD. Carotid artery stiffness is associated with frailty in men without CVD, independently of these biomarkers.

Poor oral health and the association with diet quality and intake in older people in two studies in the UK and USA.

We aimed to investigate the associations of poor oral health cross-sectionally with diet quality and intake in older people. We also examined whether change in diet quality is associated with oral health problems. Data from the British Regional Heart Study (BRHS) comprising British males aged 71-92 years and the Health, Aging and Body Composition (HABC) Study comprising American males and females aged 71-80 years were used. Dental data included tooth loss, periodontal disease, dry mouth and self-rated oral health. Dietary data included diet quality (based on Elderly Dietary Index (BRHS) and Healthy Eating Score (HABC Study)) and several nutrients. In the BRHS, change in diet quality over 10 years (1998-2000 to 2010-2012) was also assessed. In the BRHS, tooth loss, fair/poor self-rated oral health and accumulation of oral health problems were associated with poor diet quality, after adjustment. Similar associations were reported for high intake of processed meat. Poor oral health was associated with the top quartile of percentage of energy content from saturated fat (self-rated oral health, OR 1·34, 95 % CI 1·02, 1·77). In the HABC Study, no significant associations were observed for diet quality after adjustment. Periodontal disease was associated with the top quartile of percentage of energy content from saturated fat (OR 1·48, 95 % CI 1·09, 2·01). In the BRHS, persistent low diet quality was associated with higher risk of tooth loss and accumulation of oral health problems. Older individuals with oral health problems had poorer diets and consumed fewer nutrient-rich foods. Persistent poor diet quality was associated with oral health problems later in life.

Associations between inflammation, cardiovascular biomarkers and incident frailty: the British Regional Heart Study.

INTRODUCTION: cardiovascular disease (CVD) and chronic inflammation are implicated in the development of frailty. Longitudinal analyses of inflammatory markers, biomarkers of cardiac dysfunction and incidence of frailty are limited. METHODS: in the British Regional Heart Study, 1,225 robust or pre-frail men aged 71-92 years underwent a baseline examination, with questionnaire-based frailty assessment after 3 years. Frailty definitions were based on the Fried phenotype. Associations between incident frailty and biomarkers of cardiac dysfunction (high-sensitivity cardiac troponin T (hs-cTnT), N-terminal pro B-type natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP)) and inflammation (C-reactive protein (CRP) and interleukin-6 (IL-6)) were examined, by tertile, with the lowest as reference. RESULTS: follow-up data were available for 981 men. Ninety one became frail. Adjusted for age, pre-frailty, prevalent and incident CVD, comorbidity, polypharmacy and socioeconomic status, IL-6 (third tertile OR 2.36, 95% CI 1.07-5.17) and hs-cTnT (third tertile OR 2.24, 95% CI 1.03-4.90) were associated with increased odds of frailty. CRP (third tertile OR 1.83, 95% CI 0.97-4.08) and NT-proBNP (second tertile OR 0.48, 95% CI 0.23-1.01) showed no significant association with incident frailty. The top tertiles of CRP, IL-6, hscTnT and NT-proBNP were strongly associated with mortality prior to follow-up. CONCLUSION: IL-6 is associated with incident frailty, supporting the prevailing argument that inflammation is involved in the pathogenesis of frailty. Cardiomyocyte injury may be associated with frailty risk. Associations between elevated CRP and frailty cannot be fully discounted; NT-proBNP may have a non-linear relationship with incident frailty. CRP, IL-6, hs-cTnT and NT-proBNP are vulnerable to survivorship bias.

Socioeconomic disadvantage across the life-course and oral health in older age: findings from a longitudinal study of older British men.

Background: The influence of life-course socioeconomic disadvantage on oral health at older ages is not well-established. We examined the influence of socioeconomic factors in childhood, middle-age and older age on oral health at older ages, and tested conceptual life-course models (sensitive period, accumulation of risk, social mobility) to determine which best described observed associations. Methods: A representative cohort of British men aged 71-92 in 2010-12 included socioeconomic factors in childhood, middle-age and older age. Oral health assessment at 71-92 years (n = 1622) included tooth count, periodontal disease and self-rated oral health (excellent/good, fair/poor) (n = 2147). Life-course models (adjusted for age and town of residence) were compared with a saturated model using Likelihood-ratio tests. Results: Socioeconomic disadvantage in childhood, middle-age and older age was associated with complete tooth loss at 71-92 years-age and town adjusted odds ratios (95% CI) were 1.39 (1.02-1.90), 2.26 (1.70-3.01), 1.83 (1.35-2.49), respectively. Socioeconomic disadvantage in childhood and middle-age was associated with poor self-rated oral health; adjusted odds ratios (95% CI) were 1.48 (1.19-1.85) and 1.45 (1.18-1.78), respectively. A sensitive period for socioeconomic disadvantage in middle-age provided the best model fit for tooth loss, while accumulation of risk model was the strongest for poor self-rated oral health. None of the life-course models were significant for periodontal disease measures. Conclusion: Socioeconomic disadvantage in middle-age has a particularly strong influence on tooth loss in older age. Poor self-rated oral health in older age is influenced by socioeconomic disadvantage across the life-course. Addressing socioeconomic factors in middle and older ages are likely to be important for better oral health in later life.

The Relationship of Oral Health with Progression of Physical Frailty among Older Adults: A Longitudinal Study Composed of Two Cohorts of Older Adults from the United Kingdom and United States.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the prospective associations between oral health and progression of physical frailty in older adults. DESIGN: Prospective analysis. SETTING AND PARTICIPANTS: Data are from the British Regional Heart Study (BRHS) comprising 2137 men aged 71 to 92 years from 24 British towns and the Health, Aging, and Body Composition (HABC) Study of 3075 men and women aged 70 to 79 years. METHODS: Oral health markers included denture use, tooth count, periodontal disease, self-rated oral health, dry mouth, and perceived difficulty eating. Physical frailty progression after ∼8 years follow-up was determined based on 2 scoring tools: the Fried frailty phenotype (for physical frailty) and the Gill index (for severe frailty). Logistic regression models were conducted to examine the associations between oral health markers and progression to frailty and severe frailty, adjusted for sociodemographic, behavioral, and health-related factors. RESULTS: After full adjustment, progression to frailty was associated with dentition [per each additional tooth, odds ratio (OR) 0.97; 95% CI: 0.95-1.00], <21 teeth with (OR 1.74; 95% CI: 1.02-2.96) or without denture use (OR 2.45; 95% CI 1.15-5.21), and symptoms of dry mouth (OR ≥1.8; 95% CI ≥ 1.06-3.10) in the BRHS cohort. In the HABC Study, progression to frailty was associated with dry mouth (OR 2.62; 95% CI 1.05-6.55), self-reported difficulty eating (OR 2.12; 95% CI 1.28-3.50) and ≥2 cumulative oral health problems (OR 2.29; 95% CI 1.17-4.50). Progression to severe frailty was associated with edentulism (OR 4.44; 95% CI 1.39-14.15) and <21 teeth without dentures after full adjustment. CONCLUSIONS AND IMPLICATIONS: These findings indicate that oral health problems, particularly tooth loss and dry mouth, in older adults are associated with progression to frailty in later life. Additional research is needed to determine if interventions aimed at maintaining (or improving) oral health can contribute to reducing the risk, and worsening, of physical frailty in older adults.

Influence of neighborhood-level socioeconomic deprivation and individual socioeconomic position on risk of developing type 2 diabetes in older men: a longitudinal analysis in the British Regional Heart Study cohort.

INTRODUCTION: Evidence from longitudinal studies on the influence of neighborhood socioeconomic deprivation in older age on the development of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is limited. This study investigates the prospective associations of neighborhood-level deprivation and individual socioeconomic position (SEP) with T2DM incidence in older age. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS: The British Regional Heart Study studied 4252 men aged 60-79 years in 1998-2000. Neighborhood-level deprivation was based on the Index of Multiple Deprivation quintiles for participants' 1998-2000 residential postcode. Individual SEP was defined as social class based on longest-held occupation. A cumulative score of individual socioeconomic factors was derived. Incident T2DM cases were ascertained from primary care records; prevalent cases were excluded. Cox proportional hazard models were used to examine the associations. RESULTS: Among 3706 men, 368 incident cases of T2DM were observed over 18 years. The age-adjusted T2DM risk increased from the least deprived quintile to the most deprived: HR per quintile increase 1.14 (95% CI 1.06 to 1.23) (p=0.0005). The age-adjusted T2DM HR in social class V (lowest) versus social class I (highest) was 2.45 (95% CI 1.36 to 4.42) (p=0.001). Both associations attenuated but remained significant on adjustment for other deprivation measures, becoming non-significant on adjustment for body mass index and T2DM family history. T2DM risk increased with cumulative individual adverse socioeconomic factors: HR per point increase 1.14 (95% CI 1.05 to 1.24). CONCLUSIONS: Inequalities in T2DM risk persist in later life, both in relation to neighborhood-level and individual-level socioeconomic factors. Underlying modifiable risk factors continue to need to be addressed in deprived older age populations to reduce disease burden.

Prediction of coronary heart disease risk by Framingham and SCORE risk assessments varies by socioeconomic position: results from a study in British men.

AIM: Evidence is limited on performance of the Framingham risk score (FRS) in different socioeconomic groups; similar limitations apply to the Systematic Coronary Risk Evaluation (SCORE). We examined the performance of coronary risk prediction systems in different socioeconomic groups in British men. METHODS AND RESULTS: In a socially and geographically representative cohort of British men aged 40-59 between 1978 and 1980, predicted 10-year coronary heart disease (CHD) (fatal and non-fatal) risk was calculated using FRS, and CHD mortality using SCORE. Prevalent cardiovascular disease cases were excluded. Occupational social class ranged from I (professionals) to V (unskilled workers), and was summarized as non-manual (I, II, III non-manual) and manual (III manual, IV, V). Both FRS and SCORE over-estimated 10-year CHD risk; over-prediction by both was particularly marked in high social classes. With FRS, predicted/observed risk fell progressively from 2.30 in social class I to 1.19 in social class V. Sensitivity of FRS at a ≥20% threshold (27% of men) fell from 53% to 37% from social class I to V; specificity varied similarly. With SCORE, predicted/observed CHD mortality fell from 1.53 to 1.26 from social class I to V; sensitivity at a ≥5% threshold (29% of men) fell between non-manual (61%) and manual (57%) groups, as did specificity. However, including social class in FRS barely improved risk prediction (net reclassification improvement = 0.18%). CONCLUSIONS: Framingham and SCORE predictions varied between socioeconomic groups and are more likely to identify those at greater CHD risk in higher socioeconomic groups. To ensure equitable primary prevention, strategies to adequately estimate risk in lower socioeconomic groups (at increased CHD risk) should be developed.

Frailty and incident heart failure in older men: the British Regional Heart Study.

OBJECTIVE: Frailty and heart failure (HF) are cross-sectionally associated. Published longitudinal data are very limited. We sought to investigate associations between frailty and incident HF. METHODS: Prospective study of 1722 men, examined at age 72-91 years. Scores based on the Fried phenotype, Gill index and a novel frailty score, based on the Health Ageing and Body Composition Battery, incorporating slow walking speed, low chair-stand time and subjective difficulty with balance, were calculated. Associations between these scores and incident HF were analysed with Cox proportional hazard modelling. RESULTS: 1445 men with frailty data and without prevalent HF were included. 99 developed HF (mean follow-up 6.1 years). Men scoring 3/3 on our novel frailty score had elevated risk of incident HF (HR 2.77, 95% CI 1.25 to 6.15), which persisted after adjustment for established risk factors and interleukin-6 (HR 3.14, 95% CI 1.35 to 7.31). This risk remained increased, although attenuated, after excluding HF events within 2 years of baseline (HR 2.05, 95% CI 0.61 to 6.92). The frailty phenotype showed a non-significant association with HF (age-adjusted HR 1.92, 95% CI 0.99 to 3.73), which was further attenuated after adjustment for prevalent coronary heart disease and Body mass index (HR 1.60, 95% CI 0.81 to 3.15). Gill-type scores were weakly associated with HF risk after these adjustments (HR 1.31, 95% CI 0.47 to 3.70). CONCLUSION: In these older men, the combination of slow walk speed, low sit-stand time and balance problems were associated with high risk of incident HF, independent of established risk factors and inflammatory markers. However, undiagnosed HF at baseline may still be a confounder. There is a differential association between aspects of the frailty phenotype and incident HF.

Oral health and all-cause, cardiovascular disease, and respiratory mortality in older people in the UK and USA.

Preventing deterioration of oral health in older age can be crucial for survival. We aimed to examine associations of oral health problems with all-cause, cardiovascular disease (CVD), and respiratory mortality in older people. We used cohort data from the British Regional Health Study (BRHS) (N = 2147, 71-92 years), and the Health, Aging and Body Composition (HABC) Study (USA) (N = 3075, 71-80 years). Follow-up was 9 years (BRHS) and 15 years (HABC Study). Oral health comprised tooth loss, periodontal disease, dry mouth, and self-rated oral health. Cox regression was performed for all-cause mortality, competing risks for CVD mortality, and accelerated failure time models for respiratory mortality. In the BRHS, tooth loss was associated with all-cause mortality (hazard ratio (HR) = 1.59, 95% CI 1.09, 2.31). In the HABC Study, tooth loss, dry mouth, and having ≥ 3 oral problems were associated with all-cause mortality; periodontal disease was associated with increased CVD mortality (subdistribution hazard ratio (SHR) = 1.49, 95% CI 1.01, 2.20); tooth loss, and accumulation of oral problems were associated with high respiratory mortality (tooth loss, time ratio (TR) = 0.73, 95% CI 0.54, 0.98). Findings suggest that poor oral health is associated with mortality. Results highlight the importance of improving oral health to lengthen survival in older age.

Inflammatory markers and incident heart failure in older men: the role of NT-proBNP.

Aim: To determine the relationship between baseline inflammation (CRP and IL-6) with natriuretic peptide (NP) activity (measured by NT-proBNP) and incident heart failure (HF) in older men. Methods & results: In the British Regional Heart Study, 3569 men without prevalent myocardial infarction or HF were followed for mean 16.3 years; 327 developed HF. Baseline CRP and IL-6 were significantly and positively associated with NT-proBNP. Those in the highest CRP and IL-6 quartiles had an elevated risk of HF after age and BMI adjustment (HR = 1.42 [1.01-1.98] and 1.71 [1.24-2.37], respectively), which markedly attenuated after NT-proBNP adjustment (HR = 1.15 [0.81-1.63] and 1.25 [0.89-1.75], respectively). Conclusion: NP activity is associated with pro-inflammatory biomarkers and may explain the link between inflammation and incident HF.

Lay abstract Inflammation describes the body's natural response to infections, injuries and toxins. Inflammation is a helpful response in the short term, but it is thought that long-lasting inflammation ­ for example, due to illnesses such as diabetes or obesity ­ may have harmful effects. Previous studies have found that people with higher levels of inflammatory molecules in the blood seem to be more likely to develop heart failure (HF) later on. The amount of fluid in the body is controlled, in part, by molecules in the blood known as 'natriuretic peptides' (NPs). People with HF have much higher levels of NPs in their blood, and these are used to help diagnose HF. There are suggestions that inflammation and natriuretic peptides are linked to one another. Using a sample of men aged 60­79 years, who did not have HF, we compared blood markers of inflammation and NPs at a baseline examination. Men with higher blood inflammatory markers tended to have higher blood NP levels. We then followed these men up for an average of 16.3 years. Men with higher blood inflammatory markers at baseline were more likely to develop HF, as expected, even after accounting for differences in age and BMI. However, when we accounted for NP levels at baseline, the increased risk of HF with inflammation disappeared. This suggests that NP activity is important in the relationship between inflammation and the risk of HF. Future studies should account for this when examining the link. It is possible that NPs or, more likely, whatever is driving their release, may explain why people with inflammation are more likely to get HF.

Poor Oral Health and Inflammatory, Hemostatic, and Cardiac Biomarkers in Older Age: Results From Two Studies in the UK and USA.

BACKGROUND: We examined the association of objective and subjective oral health markers with inflammatory, hemostatic, and cardiac biomarkers in older age. METHODS: Cross-sectional analyses were based on the British Regional Heart Study (BRHS) comprising British men aged 71-92 years (n = 2,147), and the Health, Aging and Body Composition (HABC) Study comprising American men and women aged 71-80 years (n = 3,075). Oral health markers included periodontal disease, tooth count, dry mouth. Inflammatory biomarkers included C-reactive protein (CRP), interleukin-6 (IL-6) in both studies, and tissue plasminogen activator (t-PA), von Willebrand Factor (vWF), fibrin D-dimer, high-sensitivity Troponin T (hsTnT), and N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide (NTproBNP) only in the BRHS. RESULTS: In both studies, tooth loss, was associated with the top tertile of CRP-odds ratios (ORs) (95% confidence interval [CI]) are 1.31 (1.02-1.68) in BRHS; and 1.40 (1.13-1.75) in the HABC Study, after adjusting for confounders. In the HABC Study, cumulative (≥3) oral health problems were associated with higher levels of CRP (OR [95% CI] =1.42 [1.01-1.99]). In the BRHS, complete and partial tooth loss was associated with hemostatic factors, in particular with the top tertile of fibrin D-dimer (OR [95% CI] = 1.64 [1.16-2.30] and 1.37 [1.05-1.77], respectively). Tooth loss and periodontal disease were associated with increased levels of hsTnT. CONCLUSIONS: Poor oral health in older age, particularly tooth loss, was consistently associated with some inflammatory, hemostatic, and cardiac biomarkers. Prospective studies and intervention trials could help understand better if poor oral health is causally linked to inflammatory, hemostatic, and cardiac biomarkers.

Subclinical cardiovascular disease and risk of incident frailty: The British Regional Heart Study.

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: Subclinical cardiovascular disease (CVD) is cross-sectionally associated with frailty, but the relationship between subclinical CVD and incident frailty has not been reported. We aimed to assess this prospective association. DESIGN: Longitudinal analysis of data from the British Regional Heart Study, a prospective cohort study. PARTICIPANTS: 1057 men, aged 71-92 years, robust or pre-frail at baseline, and without a clinical diagnosis of CVD. MEASUREMENTS: Participants underwent baseline measurement of carotid-femoral pulse wave velocity (cfPWV), carotid intima-media thickness (CIMT), carotid distensibility coefficient (DC), and ankle-brachial pressure index (ABPI), and had questionnaire-based frailty assessment after three years. Frailty status was based on the Fried phenotype. Multivariate logistic regressions examined associations between incident frailty and tertile of cfPWV, CIMT, DC, and ABPI group (<0.9, 0.9-1.4, ≥1.4). RESULTS: 865 men were examined and completed the 3 year follow-up questionnaire, of whom 78 became frail. Adjusted for age, prefrailty, body mass index, diabetes, smoking, atrial fibrillation, blood pressure, renal function, and incident CVD, higher CIMT was associated with greater odds of incident frailty (2nd tertile OR 1.62, 95% CI 0.78-3.35, 3rd tertile OR 2.61, 95% CI 1.30-5.23, p = 0.007, trend p = 0.006). cfPWV showed a weaker, non-significant association (2nd tertile OR 1.79, 95% CI 0.85-3.78, 3rd tertile OR 1.73, OR 0.81-3.72, p = 0.16, trend p = 0.20). There was no clear association between incident frailty and DC or ABPI. In subgroup analyses, CIMT was significantly associated with incident frailty in men ≥80 years (3rd tertile OR 6.99, 95%CI 1.42-34.5), but not in men aged 75-80 or < 75 years. CONCLUSION: Subclinical CVD, as measured by CIMT, is associated with greater risk of incident frailty in older men over three year follow-up, independent of the development of clinically-apparent stroke, heart failure, or myocardial infarction, and may be a modifiable risk factor for frailty. This association may be stronger in very old age.

Oral Health, Disability and Physical Function: Results From Studies of Older People in the United Kingdom and United States of America.

OBJECTIVES: Studies examining the associations between oral health and disability have limited oral health measures. We investigated the association of a range of objectively and subjectively assessed oral health markers with disability and physical function in older age. DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS: Cross-sectional analyses were based on the British Regional Heart Study (BRHS) comprising men aged 71 to 92 years (n = 2147) from 24 British towns, and the Health, Aging, and Body Composition (HABC) Study comprising men and women aged 71 to 80 years (n = 3075) from the United States. Assessments included oral health (periodontal disease, tooth count, dry mouth, and self-rated oral health), disability, and physical function (grip strength, gait speed, and chair stand test). RESULTS: In the BRHS, dry mouth, tooth loss, and cumulative oral health problems (≥3 problems) were associated with mobility limitations and problems with activities of daily living and instrumental activities of daily living; these remained significant after adjustment for confounding variables (for ≥3 dry mouth symptoms, odds ratio (OR) 2.68, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.94-3.69; OR 1.76, 95% CI 1.15-2.69; OR 2.90, 95% CI 2.01, 4.18, respectively). Similar results were observed in the HABC Study. Dry mouth was associated with the slowest gait speed in the BRHS, and the weakest grip strength in the HABC Study (OR 1.75, 95% CI 1.22, 2.50; OR 2.43, 95% CI 1.47-4.01, respectively). CONCLUSIONS AND IMPLICATIONS: Markers of poor oral health, particularly dry mouth, poor self-rated oral health, and the presence of more than 1 oral health problem, were associated with disability and poor physical function in older populations. Prospective investigations of these associations and underlying pathways are needed.

Influence of Poor Oral Health on Physical Frailty: A Population-Based Cohort Study of Older British Men.

OBJECTIVES: To investigate the associations between objective and subjective measures of oral health and incident physical frailty. DESIGN: Cross-sectional and longitudinal study with 3 years of follow-up using data from the British Regional Heart Study. SETTING: General practices in 24 British towns. PARTICIPANTS: Community-dwelling men aged 71 to 92 (N = 1,622). MEASUREMENTS: Objective assessments of oral health included tooth count and periodontal disease. Self-reported oral health measures included overall self-rated oral health; dry mouth symptoms; sensitivity to hot, cold, and sweet; and perceived difficulty eating. Frailty was defined using the Fried phenotype as having 3 or more of weight loss, grip strength, exhaustion, slow walking speed, and low physical activity. Incident frailty was assessed after 3 years of follow-up in 2014. RESULTS: Three hundred three (19%) men were frail at baseline (aged 71-92). Having fewer than 21 teeth, complete tooth loss, fair to poor self-rated oral health, difficulty eating, dry mouth, and more oral health problems were associated with greater likelihood of being frail. Of 1,284 men followed for 3 years, 107 (10%) became frail. The risk of incident frailty was higher in participants who were edentulous (odds ratio (OR) = 1.90, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 1.03-3.52); had 3 or more dry mouth symptoms (OR = 2.03, 95% CI = 1.18-3.48); and had 1 (OR = 2.34, 95% CI = 1.18-4.64), 2 (OR = 2.30, 95% CI = 1.09-4.84), or 3 or more (OR = 2.72, 95% CI = 1.11-6.64) oral health problems after adjustment for age, smoking, social class, history of cardiovascular disease or diabetes mellitus, and medications related to dry mouth. CONCLUSION: The presence of oral health problems was associated with greater risks of being frail and developing frailty in older age. The identification and management of poor oral health in older people could be important in preventing frailty.