Patient Preference and Adherence (Nov 2023)

Orthodontic Patients with Poor Oral Health-Related Quality of Life are More Likely to Have Emotional Distress: A Cross-Sectional Study

  • Pu D,
  • Zhang S,
  • Hu S,
  • Zhang Y,
  • Xiong X,
  • Du S

Journal volume & issue
Vol. Volume 17
pp. 3047 – 3056

Abstract

Read online

Dan Pu, Shiyong Zhang, Shoushan Hu, Yuyao Zhang, Xin Xiong, Shufang Du State Key Laboratory of Oral Diseases & National Center for Stomatology & National Clinical Research Center for Oral Diseases, West China Hospital of Stomatology, Sichuan University, Chengdu, People’s Republic of ChinaCorrespondence: Shufang Du; Xin Xiong, Email [email protected]; [email protected]: This study aims to investigate the relationship between oral health-related quality of life (OHRQoL) and emotional distress (ED), including anxiety and depression, in orthodontic patients.Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted involving 603 orthodontic patients, consisting of 401 females (66.5%) with a mean age of 24.15 ± 7.72 and 202 males (33.5%) with a mean age of 24.16 ± 7.72. A questionnaire containing questions of demographic information, the Oral Health Impact Profile (OHIP-14) and the Huaxi emotional-distress index (HEI) was employed to assess OHRQoL and ED. According to the HEI score, the respondents were divided into ED group (HEI > 8) and non-ED group (HEI ≤ 8). Data were analyzed using Kolmogorov–Smirnov test, Mann–Whitney test and logistic regression analysis with the significance level set at p 0.05). Poor OHRQoL orthodontic patients were at a higher risk of suffering from anxiety and depression compared to those with good OHRQoL (age-risky drinking behavior-sex-adjusted: OR = 4.00; all p < 0.001).Conclusion: Oral health-related quality of life (OHRQoL) is related to emotional stress. Namely, patients with poor OHRQoL are more likely to experience anxiety and depression. As a result, orthodontists should consistently assess the emotional well-being and OHROoL of patients over the treatment course for better treatment outcomes.Keywords: orthodontic patients, oral health-related quality of life, emotional distress, anxiety, depression, cross-sectional study

Keywords