Parental reports of the oral health-related quality of life of children with cerebral palsy.
BACKGROUND
The severity of physical and mental impairments and oral problems, as well as socioeconomic factors, may have an impact on quality of life of children with cerebral palsy (CP). The aim of this research was to assess the impact of impairments and oral health conditions, adjusted by socioeconomic factors, on the Oral Health-Related Quality of Life (OHRQoL) of children with CP using their parents as proxies.


METHODS
Sixty children, between 6-14 years of age were selected. Their parents answered a children's OHRQoL instrument (5 domains) which combines the Parental-Caregivers Perception Questionnaire (P-CPQ) and Family Impact Scale (FIS). The severity of dental caries, type of CP, communication ability, gross motor function, seizures and socioeconomic conditions were assessed.


RESULTS
Considering the total score of the OHRQoL instrument, only the reduction of communication ability and dental caries severity had a negative impact on the OHRQoL (p < 0.05). Considering each domain of the instrument, the severity of the type of CP and its reduction of communication ability showed a negative impact on oral symptoms and functional limitations domains (p < 0.05). Seizures have a negative impact on oral symptoms domain (p = 0.006). The multivariate fitted model showed that the severity of dental caries, communication ability and low family income were negatively associated with the impact on OHRQoL (p = 0.001).


CONCLUSIONS
The severity of dental caries, communication ability, and family income are conditions strongly associated with a negative impact on OHRQoL of children with CP.
Pediatric Dentistry and Orthodontics Department, Dental School, University of São Paulo-USP, São Paulo, Brazil.
Jenny
J
Abanto
Thiago S
TS
Carvalho
Marcelo
M
Bönecker
Adriana Ol
AO
Ortega
Ana L
AL
Ciamponi
Daniela P
DP
Raggio
D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D000293:Adolescent; D002547:Cerebral Palsy / Q000523:psychology*; D002648:Child; D003142:Communication; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004245:DMF Index; D003731:Dental Caries / Q000145:classification; D004522:Educational Status; D004644:Emotions; D005191:Family Characteristics; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007182:Income; D008297:Male; D008603:Mental Health; D009048:Motor Skills; D009909:Oral Health; D010287:Parent-Child Relations; D010290:Parents / Q000193:education; D011203:Poverty; D011788:Quality of Life / Q000523:psychology*; D012640:Seizures / Q000523:psychology; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors