title: Oral health in patients with liver cirrhosis.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study was to describe the oral care habits and self-perceived oral health in patients with liver cirrhosis, as well as to evaluate the impact of oral health on well-being and the relation to nutritional status.
  
  
  METHODS
  From October 2012 to May 2013, we carried out a prospective study on patients with liver cirrhosis. Questions on oral care habits and self-perceived oral health were answered, and the Oral Health Impact Profile questionnaire (OHIP-14) provided information on oral conditions. The findings were compared with The Danish Institute for Health Services Research report on the Danish population's dental status.
  
  
  RESULTS
  One hundred and seven patients participated. Their oral care habits and self-perceived oral health were poorer than the Danish population; the patients had fewer teeth (on average 19 vs. 26, P = 0.0001), attended the dentist less frequently (P = 0.001), more rarely brushed teeth (P = 0.001) and had problems with oral dryness (68 vs. 14%, P = 0.0001). The patients' mean OHIP score was 5.21 ± 7.2, with the most commonly reported problems being related to taste and food intake. An association was observed between the OHIP score and the patients' nutritional risk score (P = 0.01).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our results showed that cirrhosis patients cared less for oral health than the background population. Their resulting problems may be contributing factors to their nutritional risk and decreased well-being. Oral health problems may thus have adverse prognostic importance. Our results emphasize the need for measures to protect and improve the oral health of cirrhosis patients.
authors: Department of Hepatology and Gastroenterology, Aarhus University Hospital, Aarhus C, Denmark.
authors: Lea L
authors: LL
authors: Grønkjær
authors: Hendrik
authors: H
authors: Vilstrup
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D003718:Denmark / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008103:Liver Cirrhosis / Q000150:complications*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009909:Oral Health / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D009910:Oral Hygiene / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D015995:Prevalence; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011594:Psychometrics; D011788:Quality of Life; D012649:Self Concept; D018434:Sickness Impact Profile; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D016388:Tooth Loss / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology*; D014987:Xerostomia / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology*