Evaluation of Oral Health Related Quality of Life of Tuberculosis Patients in Vadodara - A Questionnaire Study

Abstract

Introduction: Tuberculosis is a chronic granulomatous disease that affects various systems of the body. India accounts for nearly one-third of the global burden of tuberculosis. Primary oral tuberculosis is extremely rare, and generally occurs in young adults. It usually involves the gingiva as a painless lesion. However any increase in incidence of periodontal disease associated with tuberculosis must be produced by local factors of which poor oral hygiene appears to be the most significant. Chronic tuberculosis has been considered predisposing or contributing factor in the development of periodontal disease. So this study was designed to use Hindi version of OHIP-14 (Oral Health Impact Profile), to determine the impact of tuberculosis on everyday life and to measure oral health related quality of life in Indian population. Materials and methods: This study involved 100 patients of tuberculosis admitted in Dhiraj Hospital, Vadodara interviewed using the OHIP-14 questionnaire. All of them were provided with a printed questionnaire and were asked to fill the forms. These forms were collected as soon as they completed answering all questions. Results: The result of this study shows amongst 100 tuberculosis patients of Vadodara that average 50% patients were having occasional problems such as functional limitation, physical pain, psychological discomfort, physical disability, psychological disability, social disability and handicap because of problems related with their teeth, mouth or denture. Conclusion: Thus we can conclude from this study that the oral health-related quality of life (OHRQOL) was occasionallyaffected in tuberculosis patients. Systemic diseases like tuberculosis have occasional problems with periodontal health and diseases.