Skip to main page content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Dot gov

The .gov means it’s official.
Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you’re on a federal government site.

Https

The site is secure.
The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely.

Access keys NCBI Homepage MyNCBI Homepage Main Content Main Navigation
. 2023 May 19;31(6):344.
doi: 10.1007/s00520-023-07797-1.

Self-reported outcomes on oral health and oral health-related quality of life in long-term childhood cancer survivors-A DCCSS-LATER 2 Study

Juliette Stolze  1   2   3 , Judith E Raber-Durlacher  4   5 , Jacqueline J Loonen  6 , Jop C Teepen  7 , Cécile M Ronckers  7   8 , Wim J E Tissing  7   9 , Andrica C H de Vries  7   10 , Sebastian J C M M Neggers  11 , Eline Dulmen-den Broeder  12 , Marry M Heuvel-Eibrink  7 , Helena J H van der Pal  7 , A Birgitta Versluys  7 , Margriet Heiden-van der Loo  7 , Marloes Louwerens  13 , Leontien C M Kremer  7   14   15 , Dorine Bresters  7 , Henk S Brand  16 ; and on behalf of the DCCSS-LATER Study Group
Collaborators, Affiliations

Self-reported outcomes on oral health and oral health-related quality of life in long-term childhood cancer survivors-A DCCSS-LATER 2 Study

Juliette Stolze et al. Support Care Cancer. .

Abstract

Purpose: The present study aimed to determine the prevalence of self-reported oral problems and the oral health-related quality of life (OHRQoL) in childhood cancer survivors (CCS).

Methods: Patient and treatment characteristics of CCS have been collected in a cross-sectional study, part of the multidisciplinary DCCSS-LATER 2 Study. To assess self-reported oral health problems and dental problems, CCS filled out the 'Toegepast-Natuurwetenschappelijk Onderzoek' (TNO) oral health questionnaire. OHRQoL was assessed by the Dutch version of the Oral Health Impact Profile-14 (OHIP-14). Prevalences were compared with two comparison groups from the literature. Univariable and multivariable analyses were performed.

Results: A total of 249 CCS participated in our study. The OHIP-14 total score had a mean value of 1.94 (sd 4.39), with a median score of 0 (range 0-29). The oral problems 'oral blisters/aphthae' (25.9%) and 'bad odor/halitosis' (23.3%) were significantly more often reported in CCS than in comparison groups (12% and 12%, respectively). The OHIP-14 score was significantly correlated with the number of self-reported oral health problems (r = .333, p<0.0005) and dental problems (r = .392, p <0.0005). In multivariable analysis, CCS with a shorter time since diagnosis (10-19 years vs. ≥30 years) had a 1.47-fold higher risk of ≥1 oral health problem.

Conclusion: Though the perceived oral health is relatively good, oral complications following childhood cancer treatment are prevalent in CCS. This underlines that attention to impaired oral health and awareness on this topic is mandatory and regular visits to the dentist should be a part of long-term follow-up care.

Keywords: Childhood cancer; Childhood cancer survivors; Late effects; Oncology; Oral health; Oral health–related QoL.

PubMed Disclaimer

Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Flowchart of the DCCSS-LATER 2 SALI Study inclusion process. DCCSS LATER; Dutch Childhood Cancer Survivor Study Late Effects Study, IC—no participation; survivors signed informed consent for participation, however, data collection was hampered for different reasons. CCS who were ineligible for the SALI subproject were treated in outpatient clinics of DCCSS LATER 2, which were not participating in the SALI subproject
Fig. 2
Fig. 2
Distribution of responses of childhood cancer survivors to different items on the frequency of self-reported oral problems on a 5-point Likert Scale ranging from 0 (never) to 4 (very often)
Fig. 3
Fig. 3
Distribution of responses of childhood cancer survivors to the 14 different items of the Oral Health Impact Profile-14
See this image and copyright information in PMC

References

    1. O'Leary M, Krailo M, Anderson JR, Reaman GH. Progress in childhood cancer: 50 years of research. Semin Oncol. 2008;35:484–493. doi: 10.1053/j.seminoncol.2008.07.008. - DOI - PMC - PubMed
    1. Geenen MM, Cardous-Ubbink MC, Kremer LCM, et al. Medical assessment of adverse health outcomes in long-term survivors of childhood cancer. J Am Med Assoc. 2007;297:2705–2715. doi: 10.1001/jama.297.24.2705. - DOI - PubMed
    1. Kaste SC, Goodman P, Leisenring W, Stovall M, Hayashi RJ, Yeazel M, et al. Impact of radiation and chemotherapy on risk of dental abnormalities: a report from the childhood cancer survivor study. Cancer Interdiscip Int J Am Cancer Soc. 2009;115:5817–5827. doi: 10.1038/jid.2014.371. - DOI - PMC - PubMed
    1. Milgrom SA, van Luijk P, Pino R, et al. Salivary and dental complications in childhood cancer survivors treated with radiation therapy to the head and neck: a Pediatric Normal Tissue Effects in the Clinic (PENTEC) Comprehensive Review. Int J Radiat Oncol Biol Phys. 2021;000:1–15. doi: 10.1016/j.ijrobp.2021.04.023. - DOI - PubMed
    1. Seremidi K, Kloukos D, Polychronopoulou A, et al. Late effects of chemo and radiation treatment on dental structures of childhood cancer survivors. A systematic review and meta-analysis. Head Neck. 2019;41:3422–3433. doi: 10.1002/hed.25840. - DOI - PubMed

LinkOut - more resources