title: Comparison of Oral Health Status and the Quality of Life in Haemodialysis Patients with Less and More than Four Years of Treatment.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate and compare the quality of life and oral health indicators in patients undergoing haemodialysis considering the influence treatment duration.
  
  
  METHODS
  One hundred patients were divided into two groups according to the duration of haemodialysis: (1) < 4 years (n = 60) and (2) ≥ 4 years (n = 40). Clinical examination of the oral cavity was performed and QoL was assessed using a validated questionnaire.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In comparison with group 2, statistically significantly higher mean scores were observed in group 1 in the quality of life domains of psychological (p = 0.003), social relationships (p ≤ 0.001) and environment (p = 0.013) as well as in total quality of life (p = 0.001) and general health (p = 0.010). Similarly, evaluation of the Simplified Oral Hygiene Index and the Decayed, Missing, Filled Teeth index demonstrated worse oral health for group 2 (p = 0.029; p = 0.012, respectively). For both groups, there was a negative correlation between these oral health indicators and psychological and social relationships domains, as well as with the total quality of life score.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study showed that poor oral health indicators may be a reflection of an unsatisfactory overall quality of life in patients undergoing haemodialysis for a prolonged period of time.
authors.forename: Ana
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Andrade
authors.forename: Adriana
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Amorim
authors.forename: Stênio
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Queiroz
authors.forename: Manuel
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Gordón-Núñez
authors.forename: Roseana
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Freitas
authors.forename: Hébel
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Galvão
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D007676:Kidney Failure, Chronic / Q000628:therapy*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009909:Oral Health; D011788:Quality of Life; D006435:Renal Dialysis; D013997:Time Factors; D055815:Young Adult