Health-related quality of life for First Nations and Caucasian women in the First Nations Bone Health Study

Objectives: To assess the oral health status and oral health–related quality of life (OHRQoL) of young First Nations and Metis children. Methods: This cross-sectional study assessed the oral health status of Indigenous children <72 mo of age while their parents/caregivers completed a questionnaire, including the Early Childhood Oral Health Impact Scale (ECOHIS), to assess OHRQoL. Analysis included descriptive statistics, bivariate analyses, and multiple regression. A P value ≤0.05 was considered significant. Results: Overall, 146 children were recruited with a mean age of 40.1 ± 21.2 (SD) months, and 49% were male. Among First Nations children, 65.4% had early childhood caries (ECC) as compared with 45.2% among Metis children (P = 0.025). However, there was no statistically significant difference in the prevalence of severe ECC (S-ECC) between First Nations and Metis children (60.6% v. 42.9%, P = 0.051). The mean decayed, missing, and filled primary teeth (dmft) score was 4.9 ± 5.3 (range 0–20), and the mean decayed, missing, and filled surfaces (dmfs) score was 14.5 ± 20.4 (range 0–80). The total mean ECOHIS score was 4.4 ± 5.9 (range 0–25), while the mean Child Impact Section and Family Impact Section scores were 2.6 ± 4.0 (range 0–10) and 1.8 ± 2.8 (range 0–8), respectively. Multiple linear regression showed S-ECC was associated with total mean ECOHIS scores (P = 0.02). Higher total mean ECOHIS scores (which indicates poorer OHRQoL) were observed in children with ECC compared with caries-free children (5.8 v. 2.4, P = 0.0001). Conclusion: Oral health disparities such as ECC and reduced OHRQoL exist among many First Nations and Metis children in Manitoba. This is the first Canadian study exploring the OHRQoL of Indigenous children in addition to their oral health status. Knowledge Transfer Statement: This study is the first to report on the oral health–related quality of life and its relationship to early childhood caries (ECC) among young Canadian First Nations and Metis children. Metis children are just as likely to suffer from severe ECC than First Nations children. The findings of this study have informed community-based and community-developed oral health promotion and ECC prevention activities.

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Abstract MP41: Health-related Quality of Life and Risk of Hypertension in the Community: A Prospective Analysis from the Western New York Health Study

Circulation ◽

10.1161/circ.129.suppl_1.mp41 ◽

2014 ◽

Vol 129 (suppl_1) ◽

Author(s):

Saverio Stranges ◽

Lisa Rafalson ◽

Richard Donahue

Keyword(s):

Quality Of Life ◽

Blood Pressure ◽

New York ◽

Health Status ◽

Health Study ◽

Health Related Quality ◽

Sf 36 ◽

Related Quality ◽

Health Related

Health-related Quality of Life and Risk of Hypertension in the Community: A Prospective Analysis from the Western New York Health Study Background: Measures of quality of life and health status are strong predictors of mortality and morbidity outcomes including cardiovascular disease (CVD). However, prospective epidemiological evidence from population-based studies on the potential impact of these measures on hypertension risk is scant. Objective: We sought to examine the independent role of measures of quality of life and health status on the risk of incident hypertension in a community-based sample from Western New York. Methods: A longitudinal analysis, over 6 years of follow-up, among 946 women and men (mean age 54.3 years) from the community, who were free of hypertension, CVD, and diabetes at the baseline examination, in the Western New York Health Study (WNYHS). Baseline variables included socio-demographics, anthropometrics, blood pressure, biomarker data, major behavioural risk factors, and measures of quality of life and health status, such as the physical and mental health component summaries of the short form-36 questionnaire (SF-36). Incident hypertension was defined as blood pressure > or =140/90 or on antihypertensive medication at the follow-up visit. Results: The cumulative six year incidence of hypertension was 22.6% (214/942). In bivariate analyses, there were several baseline correlates of incident hypertension, including age, BMI, and baseline blood pressure levels in both sexes; whereas cigarette smoking, change in BMI, family history of hypertension, and the SF-36 physical score were all significantly associated with hypertension only among women. After multivariate adjustment, cigarette use at baseline (OR: 2.96, 1.35, 6.51), family history of hypertension (OR: 2.59, 1.52-4.42), BMI change since baseline (OR: 1.18, 1.06-1.31), and the SF-36 physical score (OR: 0.97, 0.94-0.99 for a unit change) were the only significant predictors of hypertension independent of age and baseline blood pressure levels in women. Conclusions: Results from this study suggest that measures of health-related quality of life may represent independent predictors of hypertension risk, at least among women, above and beyond the role of traditional risk factors, such as age, smoking, body weight, and familial predisposition.

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