Periodontitis is associated with oral health-related quality of life in individuals with end-stage renal disease

Aim: The aim of the present study was to evaluate whether periodontitis is independently associated with oral health-related quality of life (OHRQoL) in individuals with end-stage renal disease (ESRD).

Materials and methods: Calibrated examiners assessed 180 adults with ESRD. A full-mouth periodontal examination was performed at six sites on each tooth. Periodontitis was considered a categorical variable (absent, mild/moderate or severe). OHRQoL was assessed using the simplified version of the Oral Health Impact Profile (OHIP₁₄ ) questionnaire. Adjusted multivariate Poisson regression analysis was used with a conceptual hierarchical approach to calculate the rate ratio (RR) of OHIP₁₄ scores for periodontitis according to the severity categories.

Results: In the adjusted model, mild/moderate and severe periodontitis were significantly associated with poorer OHRQoL compared to the absence of periodontitis [RR = 1.49 (95% confidence interval: 1.16-1.91) and RR 1.77 (95% CI: 1.36-2.30), respectively]. The adjusted domain-specific analysis revealed that mild/moderate periodontitis significantly impacted the psychological disability domain and severe periodontitis significantly impacted the physical pain, psychological discomfort, physical disability and psychological disability domains.

Conclusions: Periodontitis exerts an influence on OHRQoL in individuals with ESRD, with a more severe condition impacting different domains.