Assessing the effects of oral health-related variables on quality of life in Taiwanese adults

作者：Wang Tze Fang^*; Chou Chyuan; Shu Yu

来源：Quality of Life Research, 2013, 22(4): 811-825.

DOI：10.1007/s11136-012-0205-8

• Epidemiology
• Health survey
• Oral health
• Tooth loss
• Quality of life

The impact of oral health status on Taiwanese adults%26apos; quality of life has not been measured definitively. This study evaluated the effects of oral health-related variables on quality of life among adults in Taiwan. %26lt;br%26gt;A cross-sectional study design with secondary database analysis was adopted. Information about oral health-related variables in adults aged 18-64 years was collected from the National Health Interview Survey and quality-of-life data from the Short-Form Health Survey (SF-36(A (R))). Univariate and multivariate regression analysis was used to determine risk factors for oral health and associations between oral health and eight domains of quality of life defined by the SF-36. %26lt;br%26gt;Gender (P %26lt; 0.001), marital status (P %26lt; 0.001), monthly income (P %26lt; 0.001), disease history (P %26lt; 0.001), betel nut chewing (P %26lt; 0.001), oral hygiene (P %26lt; 0.001), oral health status (P %26lt; 0.001), and dental care utilization (P = 0.001) had significant effects on general health as an aspect of quality of life; gender (P %26lt; 0.001), marital status (divorced, P %26lt; 0.001), income level (20,000-80,000 NTD, P %26lt; 0.001), disease history (P %26lt; 0.001), oral hygiene, oral health-related food choice limitations (P %26lt; 0.001), and dental care utilization (P %26lt; 0.001) had significant effects on general mental health. Subjects who practiced dental self-care with tooth brushing had significantly higher social functioning scores than those who did not (P %26lt; 0.001). Significant differences were also found in scale items for physical functioning, role limitations due to physical health, bodily pain, vitality, and role limitations due to emotional problems (all P %26lt; 0.001). %26lt;br%26gt;Demographic (i.e., age, gender, and marital status and income levels) and oral health-related factors (i.e., oral hygiene, dental visits, disease history, and lifestyle factors such as cigarette smoking, alcohol use, and betel nut chewing) are all significantly associated with oral health-related quality of life in Taiwanese adults.

• 出版日期2013-5