Quality of life in Korean patients with burning mouth syndrome

Abstract

[한글]

[영문]

Objectives: To evaluate the perceived general and oral health-related quality of life in Korean patients with BMS, this study investigated using two questionnaires. One is the Medical Outcome Short Form Health Survey Questionnaire (SF-36) for evaluating self-perceived general health status and the other is the Oral Health Impact Profile (OHIP-49) indicating the self-rated oral health and oral health-related quality of life by comparing BMS patients with healthy controls.Methods: This cross-sectional study included sixty subjects diagnosed with BMS (57 female, 3 male; mean ages 60.25 ± 11.86 years) and sixty healthy subjects as controls (52 female, 8 male; mean ages 52.65 ± 10.30 years). Each participant of BMS group underwent a comprehensive clinical examination of the oral cavity and dental status, and radiographic examinations to exclude organic findings. All subjects in this study completed standardized and widely used two questionnaires: the Medical Outcome Short Form Health Survey Questionnaire (SF-36) and the Oral Health Impact Profile (OHIP-49), which had been translated into Korean and subsequently validated for use in Korea. Results: 1. All of the subscales in the SF-36 exhibited significantly lower scores in BMS patients than control groups (p<0.001).2. Comparison of the mean SF-36 scores between the two groups revealed the greatest differences to be for the subscales of physical pain and role emotional (role limitations due to emotional problems), while the smallest difference to be for the subscale of physical functioning.3. The mean score on each subscale of the OHIP-49 was significantly higher in BMS patients than control groups (p<0.001). 4. Comparison of the mean OHIP-49 scores between the two groups revealed the greatest difference to be for the subscale of physical pain and the smallest difference to be for the subscale of social disability.Conclusion: These findings demonstrated that BMS had an impact on various components of a patient's quality of life. BMS patients exhibited more impaired results and a poorer quality of life than control groups.