Systematic review of population-based epidemiological studies of oro-facial pain

Epidemiology of burn injuries in the East Mediterranean Region: a systematic review

BACKGROUND

Burn injuries remain one of the leading causes of injury morbidity and mortality in the World Health Organization's East Mediterranean Region. To provide an overview on the epidemiology of burn injuries in this region, a systematic review was undertaken.

METHODS

Medline, Embase and CINAHL were searched for publications on burns in this region published between 01/01/1997 and 16/4/2007. Data were extracted to a standard spreadsheet and synthesised using a narrative synthesis. No attempt has been made to quantitatively synthesise the data due to the large degree of clinical heterogeneity between study populations.

RESULTS

Seventy one studies were included in the review, from 12 countries. Burn injuries were found to be one of the leading causes of injury morbidity and mortality. The reported incidence of burns ranged from 112 to 518 per 100,000 per year. Burn victims were more frequently young and approximately one third of the victims were children aged 0-5 years. Hospital mortality ranged from 5 to 37%, but was commonly above 20%. Intentional self-harm burns particularly involving women were common in some countries of the region and were associated with a very high mortality of up to 79%.

CONCLUSION

Burn injuries remain an important public health issue in the East Mediterranean Region therefore further research is required to investigate the problem and assess the effectiveness of intervention programmes.

Twenty-year cohort study of health gain from orthodontic treatment: temporomandibular disorders

INTRODUCTION

Temporomandibular disorder (TMD) is a common condition. Studies of TMD in relation to orthodontic treatment did not show an association, but longitudinal studies from adolescence to adulthood are lacking. The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between orthodontic treatment and TMD with a longitudinal study design.

METHODS

This prospective cohort study was conducted in South Wales, United Kingdom. The baseline investigation was carried out in 1981 and involved children aged 11 to 12 years (n = 1018). Follow-up investigations were done in 1984 (n = 792), 1989 (n = 456), and 2000 (n = 337).

RESULTS

Overall TMD prevalence increased from the baseline (3.2%) to age 19 to 20 (17.6%) and decreased by age 30 to 31 (9.9%). TMD prevalence was higher in females at all follow-up points, except the baseline. Overall, incidences of TMD were 11.9%, 11.5%, and 6.0% at the first, second, and last follow-ups, respectively. Females were more likely to develop TMD than males (hazard ratio [HR], 2.1; 95% CI, 1.3 and 3.3), and those with high self-esteem were less likely to develop TMD (HR, 0.6; 95% CI, 0.4 and 0.8). There was no association between orthodontic treatment and new TMD onset. The incidences of persistent TMD were 20.0%, 34.9%, and 28.0% at the first, second, and last follow-ups, respectively. Females were more likely to have persistent TMD than males (HR, 2.5; 95% CI, 1.0 and 6.1). There was no association between orthodontic treatment and persistent TMD. The only significant predictors of TMD in adults aged 30 to 31 were female sex (odd ratio, 3.0; 95% CI, 1.1 and 8.2) and TMD in adolescence (odds ratio, 4.5; 95% CI, 2.0 and 10.0).

CONCLUSIONS

Orthodontic treatment neither causes nor prevents TMD. Female sex and TMD in adolescence were the only predictors of TMD in young adulthood.

Prevalence of myofascial temporomandibular disorder in US community women

This study estimates the prevalence of the myofascial subtype of temporomandibular disorders (M-TMD) defined by Research Diagnostic Criteria (RDC), and relates that prevalence to the surveyed report of facial pain. From among 20 000 women selected at random in the NY metropolitan area who completed a telephone survey of facial pain, 2000 were invited for an RDC/TMD examination; 782 examinations were completed. Prevalence was estimated in analyses that were weighted to correct sampling biases. Differences among demographic strata were evaluated with logistic regression. The prevalence of M-TMD was estimated to be 10.5% (95% CL = 8.5-13.0%). Prevalence was significantly higher among younger women, among women of lower socio-economic status, among Black women, and among non-Hispanic women. The report of facial pain in the telephone survey (10.1%) had high specificity for M-TMD diagnosis (94.7%), but low sensitivity (42.7%). M-TMD is a fairly common disorder among American women. Among those reporting facial pain during the last month, half met RDC palpation criteria for M-TMD; thus, a formal physical examination is imperative to establish this diagnosis. Prevalence varies with age, socio-economic status, race and Hispanic ethnicity. A substantial number of RDC-diagnosed cases of M-TMD did not report facial pain in the survey; the reason for this requires further study.

Pressure ulcer risk factors in persons with SCI: Part I: Acute and rehabilitation stages

BACKGROUND

Pressure ulcers (PUs) are a common complication following a spinal-cord injury (SCI). Good prevention requires identifying the individuals at risk for developing PUs. Risk assessment scales used nowadays were designed on pathophysiological concepts and are not SCI-specific. Recently, an epidemiological approach to PU risk factors has been proposed to design an SCI-specific assessment tool. The first results seem quite disappointing, probably because of the level of evidence of the risk factors used.

OBJECTIVE

To determine PU risk factors correlated to the patients with SCI, medical care management during the acute as well as in the rehabilitation and chronic stages. This first part focuses on identifying the risk factors during the acute and rehabilitation stages.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Systematic review of the literature.

RESULTS

Six studies met our inclusion criteria. The risk factors during the acute stage of an SCI are essentially linked to care management and treatment modalities. There is insufficient evidence to make a recommendation on medical risk factors, except for low blood pressure on admission to the Emergency Room, with a moderate level of evidence. Regarding the rehabilitation stage, no study was deemed relevant.

DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSIONS

Additional observational studies are needed, for both the acute and rehabilitation stages, to improve this level of evidence. However, this systematic review unveiled the need for a carefully assessed t care management and the related practices, especially during the acute stage of an SCI.

A two-year follow-up study of temporomandibular disorders in a female Sami population: validation of cases and controls as predicted by questionnaire

OBJECTIVE

The first aim of this study was to validate persistent, severe symptoms of temporomandibular disorders (TMD) among Sami females, as predicted by questionnaire. The second aim was to establish diagnoses according to the Research Diagnostic Criteria for Temporomandibular Disorders (RDC/TMD) Axis 1 among predicted cases and controls. The third aim was to compare subjects with severe TMD to controls in regard to dental occlusion, general health, and parafunctions.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

The subjects, Sami females living in the Arctic region of northern Sweden, all with long-standing (>or=1 year), intense (>or=5 on NS), and frequent (>or=once a week) symptoms of pain and dysfunction in the jaw-face region, were invited for clinical examination; 22 (63%) agreed to participate. Forty-six subjects with no symptoms in the jaw-face region were matched to these cases in accordance with five age groups. The examiner was blind to subject affiliation.

RESULTS

The positive predictive value of presenting with signs and symptoms of TMD at follow-up was 0.82; the negative value was 0.87. Cases reported impaired general health and awareness of parafunctions significantly more frequently than did controls. Registered dental occlusion factors did not distinguish cases from controls.

CONCLUSIONS

Long-standing, intense, and frequent TMD symptoms remained essentially unchanged over the 2-year follow-up of females in a Sami population. Presence of severe TMD was related to impaired general health and awareness of oral parafunctions.

An epidemiological appraisal instrument - a tool for evaluation of epidemiological studies

In recent years, ergonomics practices have increasingly relied upon the knowledge derived from epidemiological studies. In this regard, there is limited research devoted to the exclusive evaluation of the methodological qualities of ergonomics epidemiological studies. The aim of this study was to develop and test a general purpose 'epidemiological appraisal instrument' (EAI) for evaluating the methodological quality of existing or new ergonomic epidemiological studies using a critical appraisal system rooted in epidemiological principles. A pilot EAI version was developed and tested by a team of epidemiologists/physicians/biostatisticians, with the team leader being both epidemiologist and ergonomist. The pilot version was further tested with regard to other raters with/without a background in epidemiology, biostatistics and ergonomics. A revised version was evaluated for criterion validity and reliability. An assessor with a basic background in epidemiology and biostatistics would be able to correctly respond on four out of five questions, provided that subject matter expertise is obtained on specific items. This may improve with the article's quality. Training may have an effect upon assessors with virtually no background in epidemiology/biostatistics, but with a background in ergonomics. In this latter case, the inter-rater degree of agreement is largely above 90% and assessors can resolve their differences in a subsequent round. The EAI proved to be a valid and reliable appraisal instrument that may be used in various applications, such as systematic reviews and meta-analyses.

Tools for assessing quality and susceptibility to bias in observational studies in epidemiology: a systematic review and annotated bibliography

BACKGROUND

Assessing quality and susceptibility to bias is essential when interpreting primary research and conducting systematic reviews and meta-analyses. Tools for assessing quality in clinical trials are well-described but much less attention has been given to similar tools for observational epidemiological studies.

METHODS

Tools were identified from a search of three electronic databases, bibliographies and an Internet search using Google. Two reviewers extracted data using a pre-piloted extraction form and strict inclusion criteria. Tool content was evaluated for domains potentially related to bias and was informed by the STROBE guidelines for reporting observational epidemiological studies.

RESULTS

A total of 86 tools were reviewed, comprising 41 simple checklists, 12 checklists with additional summary judgements and 33 scales. The number of items ranged from 3 to 36 (mean 13.7). One-third of tools were designed for single use in a specific review and one-third for critical appraisal. Half of the tools provided development details, although most were proposed for future use in other contexts. Most tools included items for selection methods (92%), measurement of study variables (86%), design-specific sources of bias (86%), control of confounding (78%) and use of statistics (78%); only 4% addressed conflict of interest. The distribution and weighting of domains across tools was variable and inconsistent.

CONCLUSION

A number of useful assessment tools have been identified by this report. Tools should be rigorously developed, evidence-based, valid, reliable and easy to use. There is a need to agree on critical elements for assessing susceptibility to bias in observational epidemiology and to develop appropriate evaluation tools.

Restrictions of food intake in patients with oral cancer

Oral squamous cell carcinoma and its treatment are associated with facial disfigurement and functional inabilities that can lead patients to restrict food intake. The current study examined 80 patients undergoing treatment for the disease in a large Brazilian hospital setting, aiming at the appraisal of covariates with prognostic value for the prevalence of food restriction. Multivariate logistic regression analysis identified tumour size (adjusted odds ratio=19.32) and loss of tongue mobility (adjusted OR=5.51), controlled by the higher odds of females (adjusted OR=7.58) and patients living in crowded households (adjusted OR=4.01), as the most important clinical predictors of food restriction. These results are compatible with the hypothesis that an impaired functional status of the stomatognathic system is caused by large tumours and wide resections. The restriction of food intake in patients with oral cancer is multifactorial, and a complex causal pathway links it to the burden of disease. The knowledge of prognostic factors for nutritional depletion in cancer patients can instruct nutritional interventions in the context of planning treatment protocols aimed at improving quality of life.

Localization of Pain and Self-Reported Rape in a Female Community Sample

OBJECTIVE

Studies suggest that rape increases risk of medically unexplained pain in women. At present it is not clear whether rape is associated with pain at specific locations or at multiple locations. In this study we tested the hypothesis that rape was associated with a preferential increase in risk of pelvic pain that was not explained by pain at other sites.

DESIGN

We relied on an existing community study that oversampled women with fibromyalgia and major depression. Localization was assessed by asking about pain at four sites: pelvic region; jaw/face; headache; and lower back. Three groups were identified using a structured telephone interview: Abuse Only (sexual/physical abuse excluding rape); Rape+Abuse (rape in addition to other sexual/physical abuse); and No Abuse.

RESULTS

Compared with the No Abuse group, the Rape+Abuse group was eight times more likely to have pelvic pain and 3.7 times more likely to have jaw/face pain after we controlled for the effect of widespread pain. Rape was not associated with lower back pain or headache. The Abuse Only group did not show a preferential increase in risk of pain at any of the four locations that were assessed. After controlling for pain at other locations, we found that the Rape + Abuse group was 10 times more likely to report pelvic pain than the No Abuse group (P<0.005).

DISCUSSION

In accord with the localization hypothesis, self-reported rape was uniquely associated with pelvic pain. Future efforts to account for pain in the aftermath of rape must specify a mechanism that can simultaneously cause widespread pain as well as increase risk of localized pain.

Dental pain, socioeconomic status, and dental caries in young male adults from southern Brazil

The aim of this study was to assess dental pain prevalence and its association with dental caries and socioeconomic status in 18-year-old males from Florianópolis, Santa Catarina, Brazil. A cross-sectional study was conducted in a random sample (n = 414) selected from the Brazilian Army conscription list in 2003. Dental pain during the 12 months prior to the interview was recorded as the outcome. Socioeconomic data were obtained through a questionnaire. Dental caries experience was registered according to the DMFT Index. Analyses included simple and multiple non-conditional logistic regression following a hierarchical approach. Response rate was 95.6%. High rates of inter-examiner agreement were achieved (kappa > 0.83). Dental pain prevalence was 21.2% (95%CI: 17.3-25.1). After adjustment, individuals with one or more untreated caries were 3.2 times more likely (95%CI: 1.7-5.8) to have dental pain compared to caries-free subjects. Conscripts with low family income were 1.8 times more likely (95%CI: 1.0-3.3) to have dental pain than those with higher income.

Prevalence of persistent pain after endodontic treatment and factors affecting its occurrence in cases with complete radiographic healing

AIMS

To (i) determine the prevalence of persistent dento-alveolar pain following nonsurgical and/or surgical endodontic treatment conducted in a teaching dental hospital and (ii) identify the risk factors associated with persistent pain after apparently successful root canal treatment.

STUDY DESIGN

A total of 175 patients/teeth were reviewed 12-59 months following treatment. The patients were examined clinically and radiographically and a detailed pain history obtained. Multiple logistic regression analysis was used to investigate the association between potential risk factors and persistent pain after successful endodontic treatment.

RESULTS

The prevalence of persistent pain after successful root canal treatment was 12% (21/175). Treatment success was determined by the absence of clinical and radiographic signs of dental disease. The factors that were significantly (P < 0.05) associated with persistent pain following endodontic treatment were: 'duration of preoperative pain' [odds ratio (OR) = 8.6], 'preoperative pain from the tooth' (OR = 7.8), 'preoperative tenderness to percussion' (OR = 7.8), 'previous chronic pain problems' (OR = 4.5), 'gender' (OR = 4.5) and 'history of painful treatment in the orofacial region' (OR = 3.8). 'Type of treatment received (surgical or nonsurgical treatment)' showed borderline significance at the 10% level.

CONCLUSIONS

The presence and duration of preoperative pain from the tooth site, lasting at least 3 months, a positive history of previous chronic pain experience or painful treatment in the orofacial region, and female gender were important risk factors associated with persistent pain after successful endodontic treatment.

Can one predict the likely specific orofacial pain syndrome from a self-completed questionnaire?

To estimate the prevalence of orofacial pain (OFP) by specific diagnostic subgroups in the general population. Cross-sectional population study. General medical practice in South East Cheshire, UK. Participants of baseline investigation who completed the full postal questionnaire (1510, adjusted study participation rate 81%). Clinical examination was attended by 126 (43%) of all the participants who reported OFP in the questionnaire. These individuals were classified as musculoligamentous/soft tissue type, dentoalveolar or neurological/vascular. OFP duration, location, descriptors and statements on OFP were predictors of classification group. The estimated prevalence in the general population of musculoligamentous/soft tissue type of OFP was 7%, dentoalveolar 7% and neurological/vascular 6%. This study has derived a statistical model to classify participants with OFP into three broad groups (musculoligamentous/soft tissue, dentoalveolar and neurological/vascular) based on questionnaire information about OFP (OFP chronicity, location and verbal descriptors of pain). It is potentially useful in large population studies of OFP, where a clinical examination is not possible, however, further validation of its performance in large populations are necessary.

Association between local mechanical factors and orofacial pain: survey in the community

OBJECTIVES

The aetiology of orofacial pain (OFP) is not well understood. We aimed to determine the relationship between OFP and local mechanical factors in an unselected general population sample.

METHODS

A cross-sectional population-based survey was conducted in the United Kingdom, involving 2504 participants (adjusted participation rate 74%). Postal questionnaire was used to collect information on OFP and local mechanical factors.

RESULTS

A significant association was found between OFP and a history of tooth grinding, facial trauma, the jaw getting stuck or locked, a clicking or grating sound in the jaw joint when opening or closing the mouth, difficulty in opening the mouth wide, and chewing of pens or biting finger nails. The jaw getting stuck or locked had the highest relative risk of 2.7 (95% CI: 2.3-3.2). A history of orthodontic treatment, having any type of dentures and using chewing gum were not associated with OFP. There was some evidence of heterogeneity between types of OFP and local mechanical factors.

CONCLUSIONS

Local factors play an important role in the aetiology of OFP.

Systematic review of ceramic inlays

The purpose of the present study was to conduct a systematic review of ceramic inlays, assess the quality of published clinical studies, and determine the clinical effectiveness of ceramic inlays compared to other forms of posterior restorations. Prospective clinical trials of ceramic inlays published from 1990 to 2001 were retrieved by electronic and hand searching. The methodological quality of each study was assessed by two calibrated reviewers using a standardised checklist. The clinical effectiveness of ceramic inlays was evaluated in terms of failure rate, postoperative pain, and aesthetics. The results were compared to those of other forms of posterior restorations by means of an odds ratio. Among 46 articles selected for quality assessment, only five (10.6%) reported randomised controlled trials and 15 (32.6%) presented controlled clinical trials. The remaining 26 papers (56.5%) were longitudinal clinical trials lacking control groups. Only three papers fulfilled the requirement for statistical analysis to evaluate the clinical effectiveness of ceramic inlays. The results indicate no significant differences in longevity or postoperative sensitivity between ceramic and other posterior restorations over assessment periods of up to 1 year. It is concluded that no strong evidence is available to confirm the clinical effectiveness of ceramic inlays in comparison to other posterior restorations. Greater attention is required to the design and reporting of studies to improve the quality of clinical trials of ceramic inlays.

The association between psychological factors and oro-facial pain: a community-based study

OBJECTIVE

To examine the hypothesis that psychological factors of psychological distress, maladaptive response to illness and perception of happiness in childhood, are associated with self-reported oro-facial pain (OFP).

METHOD

A cross-sectional population-based study was conducted in South-East Cheshire, UK. The adjusted participation rate was 74%, and 2504 adults aged 18-65 years participated in the study.

RESULTS

A report of not having had a happy childhood was associated with risk of 1.6 (95% CI 1.4-2.0) of reporting OFP. An increased propensity to report symptoms associated with OFP was seen for those individuals with higher levels of psychological distress measured using the general health questionnaire (GHQ) with the risk of 2.7 (95% CI 2.3-3.2) in the highest category. All components of the illness behaviour questionnaire (IBQ) were associated with presence of OFP. There was a linear increase in risk (test for trend, P<0.01) associated with the report of OFP for general hypochondriasis, disease conviction, affective inhibition, affective disturbance, and irritability. However there was a significant decrease in risk with a high score for perception of illness (0.6; 95% CI 0.6-0.7) and denial (0.6; 95% CI 0.5-0.7). None of the factors showed significant change in estimates when adjusted for age and gender.

CONCLUSIONS

This large cross-sectional community-based study showed significant association for all of the factors considered. The obtained data raise interesting questions of cause and effect for which further, longitudinal studies are required to establish temporal relationship between these factors and the onset, cause, and treatment of OFP.