Evaluation of Orofacial Symptoms and Oral Health-Related Quality of Life Among COVID-19 Patients Attending a Tertiary Hospital in Thiruvananthapuram

Abstract

Background: Researchers have been perplexed by the diverse clinical symptoms of COVID-19 spikes, and its oral symptoms are not frequently documented. Objectives: To estimate the prevalence of orofacial symptoms associated with confirmed COVID-19 cases and to assess the oral health–related quality of life among these patients. Methods: After audio consent, a pre-tested structured questionnaire was used to gather data from COVID-19-confirmed patients, and cases from a tertiary dental care facility in Thiruvananthapuram were also included. Results: Out of 200 participants, 86 (43%) were females, and 114 (57%) were males. The mean age was 40 years, ranging from 10 to 75 years. It was found that loss of taste (111, 56%), dry mouth (54, 27%), oral ulceration (18, 9%), white discoloration (12, 6%), burning sensation (9, 4.5%), red discoloration (7, 3.5%), tooth mobility (4, 2%), osteomyelitis (3, 2%), mucormycosis (4, 2%) and gingival bleeding (1, 0.5%) were the orofacial symptoms present in the participants. Conclusion: The prevalence of orofacial symptoms was 68% in COVID-19 patients, with loss of taste, dry mouth, and oral ulcerations as predominant symptoms. The mean oral health impact profile (OHIP) value of the COVID patients who showed oral manifestations was 17.44, whereas for those who did not show oral manifestations, it was only 7.46.