Oral Manifestations in Diabetic and Nondiabetic Chronic Renal Failure Patients receiving Hemodialysis

Abstract

Aim: To assess the prevalence of oral findings in diabetic and nondiabetic chronic renal failure (CRF) patients receiving hemodialysis (HD). Materials and methods: This study was conducted on 144 CRF patients undergoing HD therapy. They were further classified into diabetic and nondiabetic groups and also according to the duration of CRF. An oral examination was performed, searching for CRF-associated oral findings, along with due considerations to duration of CRF. Results: The oral manifestations were found to be higher in diabetic CRF patients (97.14%) relative to nondiabetic CRF patients (89.18%). The diabetic group exhibited a significantly higher number of patients with poor oral hygiene index (p = 000), uremic fetor (p = 0.005), unpleasant taste (p = 0.009), dry-fissured lips (p = 0.002), and pale mucosa (p = 0.019) than the nondiabetic group. The oral manifestations were significantly higher in CRF patients of more than 24 months' duration. Conclusion: The CRF HD patients with diabetes mellitus exhibited a higher risk of oral uremic manifestations including uremic fetor, unpleasant taste, pale mucosa, and dry-fissured lips than nondiabetics. The oral health status of CRF HD patients becomes worse with the increase in the duration of CRF. Clinical significance: Oral health status is often a neglected aspect in CRF patients. It should be given prime importance for CRF patients receiving HD to improve the quality of life. Keywords: Chronic renal failure, Diabetes, Hemodialysis, Oral manifestations.