Abstract

GOMES, Maria José Almendra Rodrigues; TEIXEIRA, Maria Cristina  and  PACO, Maria Teresa Pimenta. Clinical Predictors of Oral Health-Related Quality of Life in Older Adults with Diabetes. Rev. Enf. Ref. [online]. 2015, vol.serIV, n.7, pp.81-89. ISSN 0874-0283.  https://doi.org/10.12707/RIV15002.

Background: The assessment of Oral Health-Related Quality of Life (OHRQoL) is essential to planning oral health programs, but there is a lack of research on this issue with chronic patients. Objectives: To assess clinical predictors of OHRQoL in older adults with diabetes. Methodology: A cross-sectional study was carried out with 207 older adults with diabetes in Northeast Portugal. Clinical examination provided data on oral health parameters. OHRQoL was assessed based on the short version of the Oral Health Impact Profile (OHIP-14) and the score was dichotomised into OHIP-14 with and without impact. Logistic regression models provided adjusted odds-ratio (OR) and respective 95% confidence interval (95%CI) for the clinical predictors of OHRQoL. Results: In this sample, 84.1% of older adults reported a negative impact on OHRQoL. According to the logistic regression analysis, the number of natural posterior teeth (OR=0.85; 95%CI:0.80-0.92) and a feeling of dry mouth (OR=3.30; 95%CI:1.08-10.10) are predictor variables of OHIP-14 with impact. Conclusion: Our findings highlight the importance of preventing tooth loss to ensure OHRQoL in these older adults.

Keywords : Health; elderly; diabetes mellitus; quality of life.

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