Influences of adult-onset diabetes on orofacial pain and related health behaviors.
OBJECTIVE
This study tested the hypothesis that persons with orofacial pain and comorbid adult-onset diabetes will experience greater functional and emotional impact than persons experiencing orofacial pain without diabetes.


METHODS
A random-digit dialing sampling procedure was used for a disproportionate probability sample of 10,341 persons who were screened for orofacial pain in the past 6 months and diabetes. This paper reports on 1,767 individuals reporting toothache pain and 877 reporting painful oral sores. A structured telephone interview assessed diabetes history, orofacial pain characteristics, oral health-care behaviors, and emotional and functional impacts of orofacial pain.


RESULTS
The 6-month point prevalence was 16.8 percent for toothache pain, 8.9 percent for painful oral sores, and 9.6 percent for adult-onset diabetes. Individuals with comorbid orofacial pain and adult-onset diabetes differed significantly on many of the pain characteristics and health behaviors compared with nondiabetic sufferers of orofacial pain. Diabetics were more likely than nondiabetics to have pain every day, to suffer negative emotions associated with pain, to experience disruption of daily activities and sleep, to make an emergency room visit for orofacial pain, and to report the current need for a pain-related health-care visit.


CONCLUSIONS
Although diabetes is well known to be associated with neuropathic pain, these results indicate that the experience of nociceptive pain is exacerbated by diabetes. Findings have significance for the subjective experience of oral pain, dental-care outcomes, and health-related quality of life associated with oral-health outcomes among individuals with diabetes.
Rahim-Williams
Bridgett
B
College of Public Health and Health Professions, Department of Behavioral Science and Community Health, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32610, USA. brwms@phhp.ufl.edu
Tomar
Scott
S
Blanchard
Shirley
S
Riley
Joseph L
JL
D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D000328:Adult; D000700:Analgesics / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001294:Attitude to Health; D003924:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / Q000453:epidemiology*; D004632:Emergency Medical Services / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D004644:Emotions; D005157:Facial Pain / Q000453:epidemiology*; D005260:Female; D005431:Florida / Q000453:epidemiology; D015438:Health Behavior; D006301:Health Services Needs and Demand / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D007182:Income / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D007347:Insurance, Dental / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D004366:Nonprescription Drugs / Q000627:therapeutic use; D009910:Oral Hygiene / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D019226:Oral Ulcer / Q000453:epidemiology; D010147:Pain Measurement; D012307:Risk Factors; D012648:Self Care / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012893:Sleep Wake Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology; D012923:Social Class; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D014098:Toothache / Q000453:epidemiology; D055815:Young Adult
D000700:Analgesics; D004366:Nonprescription Drugs