Impact of oral diseases on oral health-related quality of life among older people

Context: Oral diseases are an important public health problem because of their high prevalence, their impact on individuals and society, and the expensive nature of their treatment. The oral health of the older population is a global concern. Major problems include a high prevalence of missing teeth, dental caries, periodontal disease, and wasting diseases. Poor oral health has an influence on the quality of life (QoL) as well. We attempted to assess the impact of oral diseases on oral health-related QoL (OHRQoL) using the Geriatric Oral Health Assessment Index (GOHAI) questionnaire. Aim: To investigate the impact of oral diseases on OHRQoL using the GOHAI questionnaires. Settings and Design: The study was a population-based cross-sectional survey conducted among the older populations in South Kerala. Subjects and Methods: This was a population-based cross-sectional study, in which 399 people participated: 200 were female and 199 were male. People above 60 years of age, who were permanent residents of the district, were recruited for the study. The sampling method used was circular systemic random sampling. Clinical examination was done according to the World Health Organization Oral Health Assessment Form 2013, and OHRQoL was recorded using GOHAI questionnaire. Statistical Analysis Used: Descriptive analysis was performed using frequencies of variables, such as means and standard deviations. The bivariate analysis used Student's t-test to determine the association between variables. Results: The mean age of the subjects was 65 ± 5.5 years. Significant associations were found between the psychosocial domain and missing teeth (P < 0.05) and periodontitis (P < 0.05). In multivariate regression analysis, an association between the pain/discomfort domain was found in denture wear (P < 0.046) and tooth sensitivity (P < 0.003). Conclusions: The study found a reduction in the OHRQoL among the study population. The study finding underscores the impact of oral diseases on QoL.