Abstract
BackgroundHuman immunodeficiency virus (HIV) continues to be a major global issue. HIV-infected patients commonly experience oral health problems. This study aimed to assess oral health status of the patients and its related factors in Shiraz, Iran.MethodsIn this cross-sectional study, by using simple random sampling, 250 HIV-infected patients were selected from Shiraz Voluntary Counseling and Testing Center in 2019. Patients' decayed, missing, and filled tooth (DMFT) index, plaque index (PI), and community periodontal index (CPI) were determined. Associations between patients' characteristics and the above-mentioned indices were examined by using Pearson correlation, one-way ANOVA, chi-square, and independent sample T test. The effect of possible confounding factors was controlled by using multiple linear regression and logistic models.ResultsOf the 222 participants, 111 (50%) had 15 or more missing teeth and 79 (35.6%) were edentulous. Their mean (SD) DMFT and PI were 20.71 (10.74) and 1.11 (0.79), respectively. About 40% of them had healthy gingiva. DMFT (p < 0.001), PI (p < 0.001), and CPI (p = 0.002) were significantly worse in men than women. The patients' DMFT and edentulous status were significantly associated with their age (both p < 0.001) and duration of disease (p = 0.001 and p = 0.008, respectively). Unemployed patients had the worst DMFT, PI, and CPI (all p < 0.001) and the highest percentage of edentulous individuals (p = 0.003). All examined indices were significantly worse in cigarette smokers, alcoholics, addicts, and patients with a previous history of imprisonment (all p < 0.001). The odds ratio of being edentulous was 5.74 times in addicted patients than in non-addicted ones (p < 0.001). The odds increased 0.11 with every year that the patients' age increased (p < 0.001). Multiple linear regression models also showed that the addicted patients had significantly more scores in DMFT index, PI, and CPI (all p < 0.001).ConclusionsOverall, oral health status of the HIV-infected patients was unsatisfactory. Therefore, effective interventional programs are needed for prevention and early treatment of dental problems among this population, especially for more vulnerable groups such as older men with low socioeconomic status, and those with high-risk behaviors.
Highlights
Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) is a global public health problem [1]
Increasing the life expectancy required more attention to the management of the problems that these patients experience such as oral health problems, which was one of the earliest signs of HIV infection occurring in 30–80% of HIV-infected patients [7]
Effective collaboration between medical and dental professionals is essential for improvement of oral health outcomes since good oral health was found to be associated with proper control of the disease among patients with HIV
Summary
Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) is a global public health problem [1]. According to the Iranian Ministry of Health and Medical Education reports, 22,406 HIV-infected patients were living in Iran in 2019 [4]. The United Nations on HIV and acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) estimated the actual number of HIV-infected patients living in Iran in 2019 as 59,000 [5]. The introduction of antiretroviral drugs significantly reduced the mortality and increased life expectancy in HIV-infected patients [6]. Increasing the life expectancy required more attention to the management of the problems that these patients experience such as oral health problems, which was one of the earliest signs of HIV infection occurring in 30–80% of HIV-infected patients [7]. HIV-infected patients commonly experience oral health problems. This study aimed to assess oral health status of the patients and its related factors in Shiraz, Iran
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