Oral health-related quality-of-life and mental health in individuals with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)

Abstract

Objectives. To investigate the association between oral health, oral health-related quality-of-life (OHRQoL) and mental health-related quality-of-life (QoL) in persons with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) with respect to demographic, social and clinical oral health variables. Materials and methods. One hundred participants were included in a cross-sectional study at a hospital in Norway. Data were collected via the Oral Health Impact Profile (OHIP-14), the SF-36v2 Health Survey Mental Component (MCS), other self-reported factors, an interview and a clinical examination. Multiple regression analyses were performed. The Regional Committee for Medical and Health Research Ethics approved the study. Results. Higher education (p < 0.01), being a smoker (p < 0.05) and experience of oral health problems (p < 0.001) were significantly associated with oral health-related quality-of-life (OHRQoL). Furthermore, those with feelings of dry mouth (p < 0.05) and impaired OHRQoL (p < 0.001) experienced more mental health problems. Conclusions. This study demonstrated that oral health and personal factors are related to mental health-related QoL and OHRQoL in individuals with COPD. This finding shows the need to focus on oral care.

Key Words:

• COPD
• mental health
• oral health
• oral health impact profile
• oral health-related quality-of-life
• Sf-36v2 survey

Acknowledgements

Thanks to all participants as well as colleagues at the hospital involved in planning the clinical work and the writing and reading of our manuscript.

Declaration of interest: The authors report no conflicts of interest. The authors alone are responsible for the content and writing of the paper.