Objective: The objective of the present study was to evaluate the oral health-related quality of life among patients and their caregivers with Parkinson’s disease.

Background: Parkinson’s disease can severely affect the oral health-related quality of life (OHR-QoL) of both patients and their carers. Oral and dental health in Parkinson’s disease has not been given much importance.1 As this chronic, neurodegenerative disease progresses, OHR-QoL deteriorates.

Methods: A descriptive cross sectional study was conducted on 34 patients and 42 caregivers of Mangalore, Karnataka, India using convinience sampling. The participants answered an improved version of the Oral Health Impact Profile (OHIP-14) Information was also elicited on their socio-demographic characteristics and dental care particulates. Statistical analysis was done using SPSS software version 19 and results were compared using percentages, t test and chi square test.

Results: The OHIP-14 average score was 14.23 for parkinson’s disease patients and 3.56 for care givers. Dental anxiety and unhealthy dentition jointly explained 22.6% of the variance in OH-QoL. There were significant differences between the patients and caregivers for OHIP-14 (p value<0.05).

Conclusions: In this study, patients with parkinson’s disease had a high OHIP-14 values suggesting a less OH-QoL. Dental awareness among patients and care givers and management of PD-related OH problems is needed.

References: Batista LM, Portela de Oliveira MT, Magalhaes WB, Bastos PL. Oral Hygiene in Patients with Parkinson’s Disease. R I Med J (2013). 2015; 98(11):35-7.

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MDS Abstracts - https://www.mdsabstracts.org/abstract/oral-health-related-quality-of-life-and-dental-care-among-parkinsons-disease-patients-and-care-givers-of-south-india/