Impact of Oral Health Status on Oral Health– Related Quality of Life among Institutionalized Elders in EL-Gharbiya Governorate

Abstract

Background Aging process may directly or indirectly increase the risk of developing diseases. It may develop a large number of pathological and/or physiological changes that could influence dental treatments. In Egypt number of social welfare institutions for elderly people has increased. Therefore, the aim of the present study was to assess the impact of oral health status on Oral Health– Related Quality of Life, among institutionalized elders in EL-Gharbiya governorate. Methods The Brief Oral Health Status Examination (BOHSE) was used to assess oral health of the institutionalized elders. Oral health related quality of life of the elders was evaluated using Geriatric Oral Health Assessment index. The GOHAI comprises 12 items reflecting three hypothesized domains of the impact of oral disease: Physical function: eating, swallowing, biting and chewing ,Psychological function: satisfaction with appearance, worries or concern about oral health and inhibition of social contacts as a result of such concerns and Pain and discomfort: eating sensitivity to hot, cold or sweets. Results Regarding gender, there was a statistically significant negative correlation between geriatric oral health assessment index scores and brief oral health status examination scores among elder females (r = − .267, p = 0.004). Similarly, a statistical significant negative correlation was detected between geriatric oral health assessment index scores and brief oral health status examination scores among elders above 70 years of age (r = − .371, p = 0.002).Moreover, elders residing in private institutions displayed a statistically significant negative correlation between geriatric oral health assessment scores index and brief oral health status examination scores (r = − .252, p = 0.037). Conclusion The highest proportion of oral health problems among the institutionalized elders were oral cleanliness and gum problems (84.7%&76%) respectively. 66.8% of the participants reported a low oral health-related quality of life. Elders reporting a moderate and high oral health-related quality of life represented 20.3% and 12.9% respectively. A significant negative correlation between oral health and oral-health related quality of life was identified among institutionalized elders.