title: Impact of rheumatic diseases on oral health and quality of life.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  We investigated the effects of rheumatic diseases on oral symptoms, health habits, and quality of life in subjects with and without rheumatic diseases. The hypothesis was that patients with rheumatic diseases have more oral symptoms impairing their quality of life than healthy controls.
  
  
  METHODS
  A questionnaire was mailed to a random sample of 1500 members of the Finnish Rheumatism Association, including those with and without rheumatic diseases. We focused on symptoms of the mouth and temporomandibular area, and health habits. Oral Health Impact Profile (OHIP14) was used to evaluate the oral health-related quality of life. We analyzed differences between subjects with and without rheumatic diseases, controlled for age, gender, smoking, and non-rheumatic chronic diseases.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Completed questionnaires were received from 995 participants (response rate 66%). Of them, 564 reported rheumatic disease, 431 were used as controls. The patients reported significantly more all orofacial symptoms than controls. Severe dry mouth was reported by 19.6% of patients and 2.9% of controls (P < 0.001), and temporomandibular joint symptoms by 59.2% and 27.2% (P < 0.001), respectively. In the OHIP-14 questionnaire, the mean total score was significantly higher in patients (8.80 ± 11.15) than in controls (3.93 ± 6.60; P < 0.001).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The study hypothesis was confirmed by showing that the patients with rheumatic diseases reported oral discomfort and reduced quality of life more often when compared with controls.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Dentistry, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland.
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Ahola
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Saarinen
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kuuliala
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Leirisalo-Repo
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Murtomaa
authors.forename: J H
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Meurman
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D005260:Female; D005387:Finland / Q000453:epidemiology; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009909:Oral Health; D015995:Prevalence; D011788:Quality of Life; D012216:Rheumatic Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology*; D013705:Temporomandibular Joint Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology*; D014987:Xerostomia / Q000453:epidemiology*
keywords: DMARD; oral health; oral health impact profile; rheumatoid arthritis