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. 2023 Jan;50(1):62-68.
doi: 10.1111/joor.13387. Epub 2022 Nov 7.

Oral health-related quality of life is more strongly correlated with mental health than with oral health in relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis

Matthew R Nangle  1 , Nithin Manchery  1 , Andrew Swayne  2   3 , Helen Boocock  4 , Stefan Blum  2   3 , Julie D Henry  5
Affiliations

Oral health-related quality of life is more strongly correlated with mental health than with oral health in relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis

Matthew R Nangle et al. J Oral Rehabil. 2023 Jan.

Abstract

Background: Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a leading cause of neurological disability in young and middle-aged populations, associated with substantial burden of illness. Because a growing literature now shows that this burden extends to poorer oral health, oral health-related quality of life (OHRQoL) may be reduced as well.

Objectives: To test whether people with relapsing-remitting MS (RRMS) have poorer OHRQoL than demographically matched controls, and to establish which variables are associated with worse OHRQoL.

Materials and methods: In total, 64 people with RRMS and 69 demographically matched controls participated. Both groups completed the Oral Health Impact Profile (OHIP-14), a validated measure of OHRQoL, as well as an objective oral health examination performed by a qualified dentist, a measure of dental-related functionality and a measure of mental health.

Results: OHRQoL was significantly poorer in the RRMS relative to the control group. However, although poorer OHRQoL in the RRMS group was moderately associated with objectively assessed oral health (r = .30), it was more strongly associated with mental health (r = .61). For the control group, the reverse pattern of association was evident, with OHRQoL more strongly associated with oral health (r = .48) relative to mental health (r = .20).

Conclusion: People with RRMS report poorer OHRQoL than demographically matched controls, but these appraisals are more strongly linked to mental health than to objective oral health indicators.

Keywords: multiple sclerosis; neurological disorder; oral health; oral health-related quality of life; well-being.

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Conflict of interest statement

None.

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