Aguiar I, Lins-Kusterer L, Lins LSS, Paraná R, Bastos J, Carvalho FM. Quality of life, work ability and oral health among patients with chronic liver diseases.
Med Oral Patol Oral Cir Bucal 2019;
24:e392-e397. [PMID:
31041917 PMCID:
PMC6530952 DOI:
10.4317/medoral.22918]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/04/2018] [Accepted: 02/04/2019] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND
This study aimed to explore the associations between health-related quality of life and work ability with the oral health status of patients with chronic liver disease.
MATERIAL AND METHODS
A cross-sectional study included 150 patients with chronic liver disease, consecutively seen at University Hospital, Salvador, Brazil. Oral health was evaluated by the Decayed, Missing, and Filled Teeth (DMFT) index and by the presence of gingivitis and periodontitis. Salivary flow was "reduced" when <1.0 mL/min. Health-related quality of life was evaluated by using the 36-Item Short Form Health Survey questionnaire (SF-36); work ability was evaluated by the Work Ability Index questionnaire.
RESULTS
All health-related quality of life indicators were systematically lower among the 99 patients with reduced salivary flow than among the 51 patients with normal salivary flow. Physical Functioning, Role-Physical, and Physical Component Summary scores were strongly correlated (P < 0.005 or less) with the number of Missing Teeth and with DMFT index. Reduced salivary flow was associated (P < 0.05) with poor work ability. Patients with poor or moderate work ability presented higher (P < 0.001) means of the DMFT index than those with good or excellent work ability.
CONCLUSIONS
Patients with chronic liver disease who present poor oral health presented low health-related quality of life and poor work ability. These findings reinforce the need of these patients for specialized stomatological care.
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