Quality of life, work ability and oral health among patients with chronic liver diseases.

I Aguiar,R Parana,L Lins-Kusterer,J Bastos,Fm Carvalho,Lss Souza

doi:10.4317/medoral.22918

Abstract

BackgroundThis study aimed to explore the associations between health-related quality of life and work ability with the oral health status of patients with chronic liver disease.Material and MethodsA cross-sectional study included 150 patients with chronic liver disease, consecutively seen at University Hospital, Salvador, Brazil. Oral health was evaluated by the Decayed, Missing, and Filled Teeth (DMFT) index and by the presence of gingivitis and periodontitis. Salivary flow was “reduced” when <1.0 mL/min. Health-related quality of life was evaluated by using the 36-Item Short Form Health Survey questionnaire (SF-36); work ability was evaluated by the Work Ability Index questionnaire.ResultsAll health-related quality of life indicators were systematically lower among the 99 patients with reduced salivary flow than among the 51 patients with normal salivary flow. Physical Functioning, Role-Physical, and Physical Component Summary scores were strongly correlated (P< 0.005 or less) with the number of Missing Teeth and with DMFT index. Reduced salivary flow was associated (P< 0.05) with poor work ability. Patients with poor or moderate work ability presented higher (P< 0.001) means of the DMFT index than those with good or excellent work ability.ConclusionsPatients with chronic liver disease who present poor oral health presented low health-related quality of life and poor work ability. These findings reinforce the need of these patients for specialized stomatological care. Key words:Xerostomia, dental health surveys, hepatitis, alcoholic liver disease.

Highlights

There is increasing concern about the biological, psychological, sociodemographic, clinical and therapeutic factors that may influence the health-related quality of life (HRQOL) of patients with chronic liver diseases [1]
To the best of our knowledge, only one preliminary study has reported the association between decreased work ability and oral disease in patients with chronic liver disease [11] This study aimed to explore the associations between health-related quality of life and work ability with the oral health status of patients with chronic liver disease
Periodontitis and gingivitis were found in 42.0% and 44.7% of the patients, respectively; 66.0% had reduced salivary flow; and the mean DMFT index was 20.3 ± 8.1

Summary

Introduction

There is increasing concern about the biological, psychological, sociodemographic, clinical and therapeutic factors that may influence the health-related quality of life (HRQOL) of patients with chronic liver diseases [1]. SF-36 domains, their summary scores, and the Work Ability Index were considered as the main outcomes; salivary flow, the DMFT index and its components, and periodontal disease were the main predictors. Differences between the Work Ability Index category proportions according to salivary flow strata were evaluated by using the chi-square test. Periodontitis and gingivitis were found in 42.0% and 44.7% of the patients, respectively; 66.0% had reduced salivary flow; and the mean DMFT index was 20.3 ± 8.1. -Oral health, health-related quality of life and work ability The mean results of all the SF-36 indicators were systematically lower among patients with reduced salivary flow than in those with normal salivary flow. Periodontitis and gingivitis were not significantly associated (P > 0.05) with health-related quality of life or with work ability (data not shown). Work Ability Index strata did not vary significantly (P > 0.05) according to the same variables (data not shown)

Discussion

Findings

Conclusions