ORAL HEALTH-RELATED QUALITY OF LIFE AND ITS ASSOCIATED FACTORS IN ELDERLY POPULATION

Abstract

Objectives: The aim of this study was to evaluate oral health related quality of life and its associated factors in elderly.
 Material and Methods: A cross sectional study was done at medical OPD of KTH Peshawar by using Non-probability consecutive sampling method of 411 elderly patients. All the patients had oral examination, followed by an interview through a validated questionnaire having demographics and oral health related quality of life( OHRQoL) was measured using OHIP-14 having Likert, with higher scores indicating poor oral health (lower OHRQoL) and vice versa. Results: The mean OHIP-14 score (range 0-56) was 62.35± 10.94 which is much higher than the threshold for poor OHRQoL ‘poor OH’ ?11.0 (SD?±?6.9). OHRQoL was found good in the participants having good oral Hygiene (51.74) and who were more qualified. Females had relatively good OHRQoL (61.4).Mean OHIP score was higher in the participants belonging to rural areas (67.1) as compared to urban areas. Conclusion: This study found poor OHRQoL in elderly population in Peshawar. Participants who had good oral hygiene & who were qualified had good OHRQoL. OHRQoL was found poor in rural areas participants; it was relatively good in females as compared to males.