Evaluation of oral health-related quality of life in individuals with type 2 diabetes mellitus

Aim: The aim of the present study was to evaluate the impact of oral problems on the quality of life of individuals with type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM2). Methods: A population-based, cross-sectional study was conducted with a random sample of 302 individuals with DM2 who answered the Oral Health Impact Profile 14 (OHIP-14) questionnaire as well as a questionnaire addressing socioeconomic and oral health characteristics. After filling out the questionnaires, the participants were submitted to a clinical dental examination Periodontal diseases, dental caries and edentulism. Data analysis involved descriptive statistics, bivariate analysis and logistic regression. Results: The prevalence of impact on oral health-related quality of life (OHRQoL) was 47%. In the multivariate analysis, the variables that remained significantly associated with a negative impact on quality of life were xerostomia (OR= 2.15; 95% CI: 1.07-4.30), denture need (OR= 3.71; 95% CI: 1.17-11.73) and periodontitis (OR= 5.02; 95% CI: 2.19-11.52). Conclusion: The prevalence rate of impact on OHRQoL was high in the sample studied. Xerostomia, denture need and periodontitis posed a risk of negative impact on the quality of life of individuals with DM2, independently of socioeconomic status.