BackgroundGood oral health in older residents of nursing homes is important for general health and quality of life. Very few studies have assessed how oral symptoms affect residents’ quality of life.ObjectiveTo assess the clinical and subjective oral health, including oral health related quality of life (OHRQoL), and the association of oral symptoms with OHRQoL in older people residing in nursing homes in Islington, London.MethodOverall, 325 residents from nine nursing homes were clinically examined and 180 residents were interviewed to assess their oral symptoms and their OHRQoL using the OIDP measure. Managers and carers working in the homes were also interviewed.ResultsAlmost two thirds of the sample were dentate (64.5 %). 61.3 % of dentate and 50.9 % of edentate residents reported problems such as dry mouth, sore cracked lips, broken teeth and toothache and ill-fitting dentures. Oral health impacted considerably upon resident’s OHRQoL; 20.2 % of dentate and 30.9 % of edentate reported at least one oral impact in the past 6 months. Sensitive teeth, toothache, bleeding gums, dry mouth and loose natural teeth among the dentate and loose or ill-fitting dentures among the edentate were strongly associated with higher prevalence of oral impacts even after adjusting for demographic and socio-economic factors, and for the number of teeth (dentate only).ConclusionThe burden of oral conditions was considerable. Oral symptoms were very common and were strongly associated with residents’ worse OHRQoL. Health promotion programmes are important to help residents maintain an acceptable level of oral health and function.

Adolescents from families with a low SEP growing up without their parents may need extra incentives to visit dentist.

ObjectiveThis study analyses the 2020 survey and reviews the 2009, 2014 surveys to ascertain which Behçet's symptoms, personal and family status, patients' lifestyle, and work-related outcomes impacted on Health-Related Quality of Life (HRQoL).MethodsFour hundred and fifty-nine Behçet's patients submitted an online survey/questionnaire. Patients provided information on socio-demographic characteristics, disease duration, historical and current symptoms, systemic and topical medication, health related lifestyle, work-related outcomes regarding employment status and claiming benefits and Quality of Life (QoL) measured by EQ-5D index.ResultsFour hundred and nineteen patients met the inclusion criteria, and 371 who had full data (Males: Females: Others = 84:285:2, mean–age = 41.1 ± 23.3:38 ± 13.2:40 ± 5). The main symptoms associated with patients seeking medical care were mouth ulcers 30% and genital ulcers 23%, joint 14%, and eye problems 9%. The EQ-5D index for 2009, 2014, 2020 was (mean ± SD); 0.47 ± 0.38, 0.42 ± 0.37, 0.34 ± 0.40, respectively, p < 0.05. 2020 patients had the worst values of the five domains compared to 2014 and 2009. Interestingly, mobility value was the same over the 10 years of monitoring patients. Behçet's syndrome (BS) symptoms that had significant negative impact on QoL were; 2009 (arthropathy, neurological problems, pathergy reaction, and stomach/bowel symptoms), 2014 (arthropathy, headache, neurological problems, pathergy reaction, and skin lesions), 2020 (arthropathy, neurological problems, and stomach/bowel symptoms). The 2014 and 2020 surveys reported the QoL is significantly better in patients on immunosuppressant, who did sport, continued in employment and not receiving benefits.ConclusionJoints and neurological symptoms are the main symptoms which had negative impact on BS patients over the 10 years, sociodemographic (gender, age, marital, and education status), lifestyle (medication, cannabis, drinking wine, and regular exercise), employment status (employee and no career change), and accessing benefits (never claim benefit) had significant influence on patients' HRQoL.