Oral health-related quality of life in breast cancer survivors.
OBJECTIVE
The aim of the present study was to evaluate oral health-related quality of life (OHRQoL) among breast cancer survivors and identify possible factors associated with the outcome.


METHODS
A cross-sectional study was conducted with 151 women in follow-up at a hospital after treatment for breast cancer. Data were collected on socio-demographic characteristics, general health, and breast cancer. Clinical examinations were performed to determine caries experience using the decayed, missing, and filled teeth (DMFT) index. The Oral Health Impact Profile (OHIP-14) questionnaire was administered for the assessment of OHRQoL. Logistic regression analysis was performed to identify associated factors after adjustments for confounding variables.


RESULTS
The mean OHIP-14 score was 12.8 (SD 10.92). The prevalence of negative impact was 58.9%. A negative impact was associated with depression, the diagnosis of breast cancer, chemotherapy, number of restored teeth, and xerostomia (p < 0.05). In the adjusted analysis, only the oral variables remained significantly associated with the outcome.


CONCLUSION
A greater number of restored teeth and xerostomia exert a negative impact on the OHRQoL of women who have survived breast cancer, which suggests the need for special attention to the oral health of this population.
['Jardim|Luísa Comerlato|LC|http://orcid.org/0000-0001-7113-7651', 'Flores|Priscila Trindade|PT|', 'do Carmo Dos Santos Araújo|Maria|M|', 'Chiesa|Juarez|J|', 'de Moraes|Cristina Machado Bragança|CMB|', 'Antoniazzi|Raquel Pippi|RP|']
D000328:Adult D000368:Aged D001943:Breast Neoplasms D000073116:Cancer Survivors D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies D003729:Dental Care D003731:Dental Caries D005260:Female D005500:Follow-Up Studies D006801:Humans D008297:Male D008875:Middle Aged D009909:Oral Health D015995:Prevalence D011788:Quality of Life D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
Quality of life Breast cancer Oral health