scholarly journals The Association between Oral Health-Related Quality of Life, Loneliness, Perceived and Objective Social Isolation—Results of a Nationally Representative Survey

Author(s):  
André Hajek ◽  
Hans-Helmut König

The aim was to examine the association between oral health-related quality of life and loneliness and perceived as well as objective social isolation. Data were used from a nationally representative survey with n = 3075 (late Summer 2021). The established Oral Health Impact Profile (OHIP-G5) was used to quantify oral health-related quality of life. Moreover, established tools were used to quantify the outcome measures (De Jong Gierveld loneliness scale, Bude/Lantermann scale and Lubben Social Network Scale). It was adjusted for several covariates in regression analysis. Linear regressions showed that low oral health-related quality of life is associated with higher loneliness (B = 0.03, p < 0.001), higher perceived social isolation (B = 0.06, p < 0.001) and higher objective social isolation (B = 0.07, p < 0.05). Further regressions were performed (e.g., stratified by denture usage). Our study stressed the importance of low oral health-related quality of life for loneliness and social isolation (both perceived and objective). This knowledge is important to address individuals at risk. Future studies should clarify the underlying mechanisms.

2022 ◽  
Vol 22 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
André Hajek ◽  
Hans-Helmut König

Abstract Background There is limited knowledge regarding the association between oral health-related quality of life and probable depression and anxiety. Our objective was to examine the association between oral health-related quality of life and probable depression and anxiety in the German population (stratified by sex). Methods In sum, n = 3,075 individuals took part in a nationally representative survey (August/September 2021). The well-established Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9; cut-off of 10) and the Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7 (GAD-7; cut-off of 10) were used to quantify probable depression and anxiety, respectively. Results The likelihood of probable depression was significantly associated with lower oral health-related quality of life in the total sample (OR: 1.21, 95% CI: 1.18–1.25) and in both women and men. Additionally, the likelihood of probable anxiety was significantly associated with lower oral health-related quality of life in the total sample (OR: 1.17, 95% CI: 1.14–1.21) and in both women and men. Conclusions Our study emphasized the association between lower oral health-related quality of life and probable depression as well as anxiety in the general adult population in Germany. Future longitudinal studies are required to confirm our findings.


2021 ◽  
pp. 105566562098769
Author(s):  
Mecheala Abbas Ali ◽  
Alwaleed Fadul Nasir ◽  
Shaza K. Abass

Objective: This study compared the oral health-related quality of life (OHRQoL) among children with a cleft lip with or without a cleft palate (CL±P) and a group of their peers. The reliability of the Arabic version of the Child Oral Health Impact Profile Questionnaire (COHIP) was also assessed. Design: A cross-sectional study. Settings: Cleft clinic in a private dental college in Omdurman City, Sudan. Patients: In all, 75 children (mean age 11.3 ± 2.5 years) with a history of CL±P and a group of 150 school children without CL±P (mean age 11.4 ± 2.6 years). Main Outcome Measures: Overall and subscale scores on the Arabic version of the COHIP. Results: Test–retest reliability of COHIP in Arabic was high with an interclass correlation coefficient >0.8. Cronbach α value internal consistency was 0.8 for the total scale and between 0.7 and 0.8 for the subscales. The COHIP score was 89.41 ± 19.97 in children with CL±P and 122.82 ± 9.45 for the control group. Children with CL±P had significantly lower scores on the overall and all subscales when compared to children without CL±P ( P ≤ .001). Among the children with CL±P, there were no statistically significant differences on the COHIP based on age and/or gender ( P ≥ .05). Conclusions: Children with CL±P had a relatively high OHRQoL, which was lower than that of their peers without CL±P in both the overall scale and all subscales. Gender and age differences had no significant impact on the OHRQoL. The COHIP Arabic version showed appropriate reliability.


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