AUTHOR=Shi Min , Li Lei , Zhai Huaixiang 

TITLE=Oral frailty and its influencing factors among ICU patients with oral endotracheal intubation: a cross-sectional study

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Medicine

VOLUME=Volume 12 - 2025

YEAR=2025

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/medicine/articles/10.3389/fmed.2025.1650313

DOI=10.3389/fmed.2025.1650313

ISSN=2296-858X

ABSTRACT=ObjectiveTo investigate the level and factors associated with oral frailty among ICU patients with oral endotracheal intubation, and to provide references for the construction of targeted nursing intervention programs in the future.MethodsIn this single-centre, cross-sectional study, a total of 226 patients with oral endotracheal intubation in ICU were selected by convenience sampling method. General data questionnaire, the Oral Frailty Index-8, the Oral Health Assessment Tool, the Nutritional Risk Screening 2002 and the Frail Scale were used for the study.ResultsThe scores of oral frailty in ICU patients with oral endotracheal intubation were 3.00 (2.00, 4.00), of which 36.73% (83/226) were high risk. Age, marital status, duration of oral endotracheal intubation and oral health level were the influencing factors of oral frailty in ICU patients with oral endotracheal intubation (all p < 0.05).ConclusionThe risk of oral frailty among ICU patients with oral endotracheal intubation is prevalent. In addition to airway management, medical staff should pay attention to the level of oral frailty according to the patient’s specific situation, and do a good job of prevention and control management to reduce the risk of oral frailty.