Evaluation of Oral Health-Related Quality of Life in Elderly People with Type II Diabetes Mellitus

Background and purpose: Type ۲ diabetes mellitus (T۲DM) is the most common form of diabetes, and a metabolic disorder affecting patients' general health in various ways. The present study aimed to evaluate the oral health-related quality of life (OHRQoL) among older adults of Amirkola, Northern Iran. Materials and Methods: A case-control study was conducted with a sample of ۵۰۰ elderly people (۲۵۰ with T۲DM and ۲۵۰ healthy controls) who answered geriatric oral health assessment index (GOHAI) questionnaire and a questionnaire evaluating xerostomia. Then, all participants underwent clinical dental examinations. The obtained data were then analyzed by t-test, chi-square test, and Pearson's correlation coefficient, and p < ۰.۰۵ was considered significant. Results: The prevalence of xerostomia was not statistically significant between the T۲DM patients and control groups (p < ۰.۰۷۹). Greater number of patients suffering T۲DM reported xerostomia according to the records; however, the correlation between this disorder and periodontal disease index (PDI), Plaque index (PI), oral health index-simplified (OHI-S), and geriatric oral health assessment index (GOHAI) in the subjects of the two study groups was not significant (p < ۰.۰۰۰۱). Conclusion: In the present study, there was no significant relationship between GOHAI and periodontal indices, demonstrating no difference in the OHRQoL of elderly patients with T۲DM and older healthy adults.

Keywords:

Quality of Life , Diabetes Mellitus , Oral Health , Oral Health-Related Quality of Life