Abstract
Aim: The purpose of this study was to analyze the impact of socioeconomic characteristics on oral health-related quality of life (OHRQoL) in patients with oral submucous fibrosis (OSF). Methods: A total of 300 OSF patients’ quality of life (QoL) data were obtained using OHRQoL-OSF and global self ratings of oral health and overall wellbeing. The socioeconomic status (SES) of participants was analyzed by using modified Kuppuswamy scale. Results: OSF patients with lower SES had worse OHRQoL as compared with those with middle and upper SES (p < 0.001). The household income of the family was found to be strongly associated with poor OHRQoL. Conclusion: Socioeconomic characteristics should be considered in the holistic management of OSF as it has been strongly associated with the OHRQoL of these patients.
Financial&competing interests disclosure
The authors have no relevant affiliations or financial involvement with any organization or entity with a financial interest in or financial conflict with the subject matter or materials discussed in the manuscript. This includes employment, consultancies, honoraria, stock ownership or options, expert testimony, grants or patents received or pending, or royalties.
No writing assistance was utilized in the production of this manuscript.
Ethical conduct of research
The authors’ state that they have obtained appropriate institutional review board approval or have followed the principles outlined in the Declaration of Helsinki for all human or animal experimental investigations. In addition, for investigations involving human subjects, informed consent has been obtained from the participants involved.