Risk Factors Associated with Oral Manifestations and Oral Health Impact of Gastro-Oesophageal Reflux Disease

Background and aim: The association of gastro esophageal reflux disease with oral health manifestations faced major challenges in terms of invasive investigative approaches to be performed on patients for necessary treatment. The current study aimed to evaluate the risk factors and impact of gastro-esophageal reflux disease on oral health. Materials and Methods: The cross-sectional study was carried out on 194 gastro-oesophageal reflux disease in Gastroenterology department of Isra University Hospital, Hyderabad for duration of six from July 2020 to December 2020. The individuals underwent duodenoscopy for oesophago–gastro–reflux disease and met the inclusive criteria were enrolled. The gastro-oesophageal reflux disease patients were categorized into two group’s namely chronic gastro-oesophageal reflux disease as a group I (97 patients), while mild GORD was group II (97). The exclusion criteria for this study was individuals with limited mouth opening and unconscious patients. Mucosa oral lesion and abnormal conditions were measured as primary and secondary outcomes. Oral Health Impact Profile-14 was utilized for assessment of life quality changes with hard and soft tissue. Results: Of the total 194 patients, 113 (58.2%) were male while 81 (41.8%) were females. The mean age was 48.32±7.56 years with an age range of 20-80 years. The socioeconomic status of the participants was as follows; urban residents 127 (65.5%) and rural 67 (34.5%). The gastro-oesophageal reflux disease prevalence was found 35.6% (n=69) out of which 34.8% (24) were dental erosion (DE). Group I and II had 97 patients each. The group I was comprised of significantly common diseases such as ulceration 52 (53.6%), Oral submucous fibrosis 59 (60.8%), and xerostomia 42 (43.3%). Chronic gastro-oesophageal reflux and dental erosion diseases were statistically significant with an unhealthy pattern of diets such as ulceration, nausea/vomiting, gingivitis, angular cheilitis, and oesophagitis. The prevalence of overall oral tobacco and smoking addiction was 59 (30.4%) and 52 (26.8%). Tea was the most prevalent consumed beverage 141(72.7%). Gastro-oesophageal reflux and dental erosion diseases were positively correlated with oral health assessment scale-14 (p-value <0.05). The psychological discomfort, psychological disability, physical disability, and functional limitation were the notable impacts with their respective ranks correlation coefficient (rs) 0.29, 0.26, 0.28, and 0.19. Conclusion: Gastro-oesophageal reflux and dental erosion disease had higher severity among patients of oral manifestation compared to those with no gastro-oesophageal reflux and dental erosion disease. The systemic and oral disease severity needs to be assessed routinely with dental checkup. Keywords: Oral manifestations, Gastro-oesophageal reflux disease