Oral health-related quality of life, probable depression and probable anxiety: evidence from a representative survey in Germany

André Hajek,Hans-Helmut König

doi:10.1186/s12903-022-02047-y

André Hajek, Hans-Helmut König

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.1186/s12903-022-02047-y

Copy DOI

Abstract

BackgroundThere is limited knowledge regarding the association between oral health-related quality of life and probable depression and anxiety. Our objective was to examine the association between oral health-related quality of life and probable depression and anxiety in the German population (stratified by sex).MethodsIn sum, n = 3,075 individuals took part in a nationally representative survey (August/September 2021). The well-established Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9; cut-off of 10) and the Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7 (GAD-7; cut-off of 10) were used to quantify probable depression and anxiety, respectively.ResultsThe likelihood of probable depression was significantly associated with lower oral health-related quality of life in the total sample (OR: 1.21, 95% CI: 1.18–1.25) and in both women and men. Additionally, the likelihood of probable anxiety was significantly associated with lower oral health-related quality of life in the total sample (OR: 1.17, 95% CI: 1.14–1.21) and in both women and men.ConclusionsOur study emphasized the association between lower oral health-related quality of life and probable depression as well as anxiety in the general adult population in Germany. Future longitudinal studies are required to confirm our findings.

Highlights

There is limited knowledge regarding the association between oral health-related quality of life and probable depression and anxiety
In further multiple logistic regression analysis, oral health-related quality of life was dichotomized (i.e., OHIG-G5 scores of zero; scores of one or higher): The likelihood of probable depression was significantly associated with low oral health-related quality of life in the total sample (OR: 2.91, 95% Confidence interval (CI): 2.33– 3.63) and in both women (OR: 2.68, 95% CI: 1.99–3.61) and men (OR: 3.49, 95% CI: 2.48–4.92)
In accordance with most of the results from existing studies from other countries [8,9,10, 13, 15, 16], our study demonstrated an association between oral health-related quality of life and probable depression in the German population

Summary

Introduction

There is limited knowledge regarding the association between oral health-related quality of life and probable depression and anxiety. Our objective was to examine the association between oral health-related quality of life and probable depression and anxiety in the German population (stratified by sex). The prevalence of both depression and anxiety is high in adulthood [1, 2]. Only two studies exist investigating the association between oral health-related quality of life and probable anxiety in adulthood These two studies did not explicitly differentiate between anxiety and depression. Both studies showed a significant association between anxiety/depressive symptoms and lower oral health-related quality of life [17, 18]

Objectives

Methods

Results

Discussion

Conclusion