Changes in quality of life over time in patients diagnosed with oral leukoplakia: A prospective longitudinal study

Abstract

Background: Oral leukoplakia (OL) is one of the most prevalent oral potentially malignant disorders (OPMD). Although there is emerging evidence that quality of life (QoL) is impaired in subjects with OL; studies to date are based on single and heterogenous point-in-time assessments. The aim of this study was to ascertain if QoL scores change over time in individuals diagnosed with OL.Methods: Forty-one individuals with OL were administered the Short Generic Health Questionnaire (SF-12) and the discipline-specific Oral Potentially Malignant Disorder Questionnaire (OPMDQ) at four points in time: at the time of clinical diagnosis, at the post-biopsy review (confirmed diagnosis), and at 3-and 6-month follow-up appointments. Responses were compared between the four time points.Results: No significant differences were observed in the SF-12 questionnaire scores over time. However, a general improvement in the participants' life quality was evident over the 6-month period under investigation in the domains of psychological and social well-being (p = 0.0027) and effect of treatment on daily life (p = 0.0317) as well as in the total score (p = 0.0005) of the OPMDQ. Age, gender, medical status, tobacco/alcohol use, lesion site, size, the presence of dysplasia and treatment did not impact QoL scores over time.Conclusions: QoL scores of OL subjects may improve with time. Our results suggest that studies examining QoL in individuals with OL should be controlled for time at which the participants are surveyed.change, longitudinal study, oral leukoplakia, oral potentially malignant disorder, quality of life | INTRODUCTIONOral potentially malignant disorders (OPMDs) refer to "any oral mucosal abnormality that is associated with a statistically increased risk of developing oral cancer." 1 Oral leukoplakia (OL) is among the most prevalent OPMDs and defined as a predominantly white plaque of questionable risk having excluded other known diseases or disorders that carry no increased risk for cancer. 2,3 Diagnosis is based on clinical presentation and histopathology (keratosis with no/mild/moderate/ severe dysplasia). 1 The aetiology of OL is complex and not fully understood, with tobacco and alcohol use considered important risk factors. 4 The global prevalence is estimated to be 2% with a reported Australian average annual malignant transformation rate of about 1%. 2,5,6 Management of OL remains a challenge given difficulties