Painful and non-painful comorbidities associated with short- and long-term painful temporomandibular disorders: A cross-sectional study among adolescents from Brazil, Canada and France.

Abstract

Temporomandibular disorder (TMD) pain is common among adolescents. The association between painful TMD and other comorbidities has been demonstrated. However, the difference between short-term (<6months) and long-term (≥ 6months) painful TMD is not yet clear. The aim of this study was to assess the association between comorbidities and short- and long-term painful TMD among adolescents. In this cross-sectional study, adolescents were recruited from Montreal (Canada), Nice (France) and Arceburgo (Brazil). Self-reported painful TMD, comorbidities, school absence and analgesic intake were assessed using reliable instruments. Multivariable logistic regression analyses were conducted to assess the study aims. The prevalence of short- and long-term painful TMD was estimated at 22.29% and 9.93% respectively. The number of comorbidities was associated with short- (OR=1.71, 95%CI=1.53-1.90) and long-term painful TMD (OR=1.79, 95%CI=1.55-2.08) compared to controls. Frequent headaches (ORshort-term =4.39, 95%CI=3.23-5.98, ORlong-term =3.69, 95%CI=2.45-5.57) and back pain (ORshort-term =1.46, 95%CI=1.06-2.03,ORlong-term =1.69, 95%CI=1.11-2.59) were associated with both painful TMD groups. Frequent neck pain (OR=2.23, 95%CI=1.53-3.26) and allergies were only associated with short-term painful TMD (OR=1.54, 95%CI=1.13-2.10). Frequent stomach pain was related to long-term (OR=2.01, 95%CI=1.35-3.26), and it was the only comorbidity significantly more frequent among the long than short-term TMD (OR=1.82, 95%CI: 1.14-2.90). These analyses were adjusted by sex, age and city. In this multi-centrestudy, bothshort-andlong-termpainfulTMDareassociatedwithfrequent headachesandback pain, whereas frequent neck painandallergies are related toonlyshort-termandfrequent stomach painwithlong-termpainfulTMD.